<p>Transparent, flexible inorganic-organic composites are essential for next-generation adaptive optics, bio-integrated sensing, and reconfigurable photonics. Despite progress in hybrid material design, achieving a material that is simultaneously flexible and transparent across a broad infrared spectrum remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we report a S<sub>60</sub>Se<sub>40</sub> chalcogenide glass designed with a chain-ring dual-network architecture that overcomes this classic limitation. By integrating a dynamic covalent network of physical cross-links with heavy chalcogen elements (S, Se), this dual-network design suppresses multi-phonon absorption and ensures broadband transparency up to 21 μm, combining these optical properties with an ultralow Young’s modulus (<i>E</i> ≈ 0.0037 GPa), extreme tensile strain (~650%), and high elastic recovery (~80%). The material further exhibits autonomous self-healing and shape-memory behavior at room temperature. We demonstrate its applicability through IR deformable lenses with tunable focal length and real-time aberration correction, showcasing capabilities in adaptive imaging and wavefront control. This work provides a versatile material platform that bridges the gap between glass-like optical performance and polymer-like mechanics, opening avenues for soft infrared photonics and reconfigurable optical systems.</p>

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An infrared-transparent flexible glass for adaptive optics

  • Saihui Li,
  • Linling Tan,
  • Jianqiang Ma,
  • Shiliang Kang,
  • Chengwei Gao,
  • Shixun Dai,
  • Changgui Lin

摘要

Transparent, flexible inorganic-organic composites are essential for next-generation adaptive optics, bio-integrated sensing, and reconfigurable photonics. Despite progress in hybrid material design, achieving a material that is simultaneously flexible and transparent across a broad infrared spectrum remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we report a S60Se40 chalcogenide glass designed with a chain-ring dual-network architecture that overcomes this classic limitation. By integrating a dynamic covalent network of physical cross-links with heavy chalcogen elements (S, Se), this dual-network design suppresses multi-phonon absorption and ensures broadband transparency up to 21 μm, combining these optical properties with an ultralow Young’s modulus (E ≈ 0.0037 GPa), extreme tensile strain (~650%), and high elastic recovery (~80%). The material further exhibits autonomous self-healing and shape-memory behavior at room temperature. We demonstrate its applicability through IR deformable lenses with tunable focal length and real-time aberration correction, showcasing capabilities in adaptive imaging and wavefront control. This work provides a versatile material platform that bridges the gap between glass-like optical performance and polymer-like mechanics, opening avenues for soft infrared photonics and reconfigurable optical systems.