Moderately high refractive index, low optical dispersion polymers with pendant diamondoids

Abstract

Soluble, colorless polymers containing pendant diamondoid moieties (adamantane and diamantane) were synthesized and characterized. The materials exhibited an unusual combination of moderately high refractive index with low optical dispersion. These properties may make the polymers valuable as specialty optical plastics.

A highly transparent and thermally stable copolymer of 1-adamantyl methacrylate and styrene

“…The refractive indices of samples 4 and 7 are 1.543 and 1.522, respectively. PAdMA (sample 7) obtained in this study shows a slightly higher refractive index than the previously reported value of 1.511 …”

“…T g varies in the range 200–244 °C depending on the molecular weight ( M n = 0.46 × 10 4 –3.21 × 10 4 g mol −1 ). Recently, Robello also prepared PAdMA by ATRP and reported that T g was 240 °C when M n was 0.63 × 10 4 g mol −1 …”

“…However, very little information about the optical properties of these polymers has been disclosed thus far. Only the refractive index and transmittance in the ultraviolet region have been reported for PAdMA and AdMA‐containing copolymers. Although Tatsukami et al .…”

Derivatization of diamondoids for functional applications

“…Moreover, their dielectric constant can be tailored by varying the overall length of the arms. 116 The unusual combination of moderately high refractive index with low optical dispersion properties lead to the formation of unique optical plastics. Polymers with diamondoids as pendants offer high thermal stability, excellent transparency, solubility in organic solvents, and etching resistance, as well as good processability.…”

Synthesis, characterization, and properties of petroleum-based methacrylate polymers derived from tricyclodecane for microelectronics and optoelectronics applications

“…In bridged and non-polar polycyclic hydrocarbon structures, rigidity and three-dimensional size contribute to a high free volume, low moisture absorption and absence of π-electrons to lower the dielectric constant and increase optical transparency in the visible region [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Consequently, we hypothesized that incorporation of bulky, rigid tricycloalkyl substituents into PMMA would improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer and maintain good optical and dielectric properties to result in high-performance, high-value materials for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic applications.…”