An infrared-transparent flexible glass for adaptive optics
10 affiliations
- 1Engineering Research Center for Advanced Infrared Photoelectric Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Detection Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China
- 3Laboratory of Infrared Materials and Devices, The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- 4Engineering Research Center for Advanced Infrared Photoelectric Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
- 5Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Detection Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
- 6Laboratory of Infrared Materials and Devices, The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
- 7College of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- 8Engineering Research Center for Advanced Infrared Photoelectric Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
- 9Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Detection Materials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
- 10Laboratory of Infrared Materials and Devices, The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China. [email protected]
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 S 60 Se 40 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.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026infraredtransparent,
title = {{An infrared-transparent flexible glass for adaptive optics}},
author = {Saihui Li and Linling Tan and Jianqiang Ma and Shiliang Kang and Chengwei Gao and Shixun Dai and Changgui Lin},
journal = {Light Science \& Applications},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41377-026-02409-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-026-02409-z},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An infrared-transparent flexible glass for adaptive optics
AU - Saihui Li
AU - Linling Tan
AU - Jianqiang Ma
AU - Shiliang Kang
AU - Chengwei Gao
AU - Shixun Dai
AU - Changgui Lin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/30
JO - Light Science & Applications
DO - 10.1038/s41377-026-02409-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-026-02409-z
AB - 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 60 Se 40 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.
SN - 2047-7538
SN - 2095-5545
ER -