An infrared-transparent flexible glass for adaptive optics.

Authors

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

Published in

Light, science & applications. Volume 15. Issue 1. Jul 30, 2026. Epub Jul 30, 2026.

Abstract

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.

PMID:
42532986
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 31 Jul 2026.

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