Systems and methods of making polymeric optical layers for optical layering

A method for forming a waveguide device, the method comprising:

• segmenting a wafer to obtain a waveguide die;
• dispensing a monomer mixture onto the waveguide die, wherein the monomer mixture comprises:
• a thiol-containing compound;
• and
• an isocyanate;
• and
• curing monomer mixture to form a polymeric optical layer on the waveguide.

A polymeric optical layer for optical applications, wherein the polymeric optical layer comprises a thiol-containing polymer, wherein the thiol-containing polymer is formed from a monomer mixture comprising:

• a thiol-containing compound, wherein the thiol-containing compound comprises at least one of:
• 4-mercaptomethyl-3,6-dithia-1,8-octanedithiol (MDTODT);
• bis(2-mercaptoethyl)sulfide (BMES);
• or
• 1,3-benzene dithiol (1,3-BDT);
• and
• an isocyanate, wherein the isocyanate comprises at least one of:
• m-xylylene diisocyanate (XDI);
• or
• tetravinyl silane (TVSi),
• wherein the polymeric optical layer comprises:
• a thickness from 200 to 500 μm;
• a refractive index from 1.4-1.7 across the thickness of the polymeric optical layer;
• and
• an absorption, α, that is less than or equal to 0.02 cm−1.