Selenide-containing high refractive index polymer material with adjustable refractive index and Abbe's number

Poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) was synthesized by Fe(0)-mediated living radical polymerization followed with post-modification by PhSeZnCl. A series of selenide functionalized PGMAs with different selenium concentrations and molecular weights were obtained. The introduction of selenide groups into PGMA resulted in a polymer with high refractive index. The relationships between the concentration of selenium, degree of polymerization and refractive index were investigated. Results showed that the refractive index of the final polymer could be adjusted by the concentration of selenium and degree of polymerization, which provided a useful way to fabricate polymeric materials with adjustable refractive index.