Monomer-level strategy for high refractive index without visible-light absorption: vinylthiophene incorporation into group 14 scaffolds

Abstract

We present a monomer-level design strategy for high-refractive-index polymers that overcomes the trade-off between refractive index and visible-light transparency. Densely incorporating highly polarizable vinylthiophene units around group 14 element centers results in refractive indices up to 1.69, maintains minimal visible-light absorption, and enables their application as index-enhancing additives for polymers.