Organically modified chalcogenide polymer preforms and fibers

A method of making an organically modified chalcogenide polymer fiber optic preform, comprising

• making an organically modified chalcogenide polymer by melting a chalcogen powder, adding a comonomer to the melted chalcogen, heating the comonomer and melted chalcogen mixture, and cooling the resulting organically modified chalcogenide polymer;
• crushing the organically modified chalcogenide polymer into a powder or chunks;
• placing the crushed organically modified chalcogenide polymer into an ampoule;
• placing the ampoule inside a furnace;
• placing the ampoule under a vacuum;
• heating the ampoule to an initial temperature;
• increasing the temperature of the ampoule to a second temperature and holding at the second temperature for 5-10 hours;
• cooling the ampoule and disconnecting the vacuum;
• and
• recovering an organically modified chalcogenide polymer preform from the ampoule that is free of visible bubbles and transparent in the visible and infrared spectral region.