The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

For Infra-red (IR) lenses, chalcogenides and ceramics have been typically employed due to their high IR transmittance. However, thick, and thus heavy lenses are required to achieve high magnification as well as reduction in color distortion. Fresnel lenses, unlike traditional ones, have engraved grooves on a flat surface, allowing for shorter focal lengths and reduced weight, ideal for miniaturization. Traditional IR Fresnel lens fabrication is costly due to the use of ultra-precision cutting machines and expensive IR-transparent materials. In this presentation, we introduce an effective strategy to fabricate low cost yet sustainable IR Fresnel lenses with sulfur-rich polymers (SRPs). SRPs, produced from elemental sulfur via inverse vulcanization, are polymers due to their exceptionally high inorganic content. In addition, SRPs are thermally processable, allowing thermal imprinting.