Chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/organic polymers (CHIPS) for infrared optical materials and devices

An optical device comprising an optical polymer;

• wherein:
• the optical device is a Bragg grating, a phase mask, a waveguide grating router, a polymer interconnect, an echelle grating, a directional coupler, or a MachZehnder interferometer;
• the optical polymer is prepared from a polymer precursor;
• the polymer precursor is prepared by polymerizing a plurality of monomers of formula:
• A-L-B
• A comprises a vinylic group;
• L is a functional linker;
• B is a protecting group capable of being cleaved upon application of an external stimulus selected from the group consisting of application of an acid, a photoacid generator, heat, light irradiation, or a combination thereof;
• the polymer precursor is deprotected to remove the protecting group, thereby resulting in an irreversible change in refractive index, Δn, and producing the optical polymer;
• Δn is greater than about 0.01.