A catalyst may include a support and from 5 to 20 wt.-% of a promoter, based on the total weight of the catalyst, wherein the support may include titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, and/or a mixture thereof, and the promoter may be an alkali metal oxide. Processes for preparing such catalysts may include impregnating a support of titanium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide with an aqueous solution including a preferably soluble alkali compound and calcining. Alkyl mercaptans may be prepared in the presence of such catalysts or catalysts obtained by such processes.

A catalyst may include a support and from 5 to 20 wt.-% of a promoter, based on the total weight of the catalyst, wherein the support may include titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, and/or a mixture thereof, and the promoter may be an alkali metal oxide. Processes for preparing such catalysts may include impregnating a support of titanium dioxide and/or zirconium dioxide with an aqueous solution including a preferably soluble alkali compound and calcining. Alkyl mercaptans may be prepared in the presence of such catalysts or catalysts obtained by such processes.

The present invention provides a novel compound for optical materials, and a curable composition, a cured body and an optical article containing the compound for optical materials. According to an embodiment, there is provided a compound for optical materials represented by Formula (Ia) below: ##STR00001##
In Formula (Ia), X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each NH, S, or O. R.sup.1 is a 1- to 30-valent organic residue. R.sup.3 is a group composed of a polymer having a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.mO, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O), (CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O), (C(O)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), and (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), a random copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group, or a block copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group.

The present invention provides a novel compound for optical materials, and a curable composition, a cured body and an optical article containing the compound for optical materials. According to an embodiment, there is provided a compound for optical materials represented by Formula (Ia) below: ##STR00001##
In Formula (Ia), X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each NH, S, or O. R.sup.1 is a 1- to 30-valent organic residue. R.sup.3 is a group composed of a polymer having a repeating unit selected from the group consisting of (CH.sub.2).sub.mO, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O), (CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3)O), (C(O)CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), and (C(O)OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O), a random copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group, or a block copolymer having at least two repeating units selected from the group.

A vapor-based method and system for printing a 3D structure are provided. The vapor-based method includes providing a substrate; providing a first vapor including an organic molecule including a functional group at each end for creation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a building block for printing the 3D structure; providing a second vapor including metal ions; applying the first vapor and the second vapor to form molecular-metal SAMs thereby providing a multiple layered SAMs material on the substrate; and applying a force and forming the 3D structure from the multiple layered SAMs material, wherein the 3D structure is provided on the substrate.

A vapor-based method and system for printing a 3D structure are provided. The vapor-based method includes providing a substrate; providing a first vapor including an organic molecule including a functional group at each end for creation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a building block for printing the 3D structure; providing a second vapor including metal ions; applying the first vapor and the second vapor to form molecular-metal SAMs thereby providing a multiple layered SAMs material on the substrate; and applying a force and forming the 3D structure from the multiple layered SAMs material, wherein the 3D structure is provided on the substrate.

A vapor-based method and system for printing a 3D structure are provided. The vapor-based method includes providing a substrate; providing a first vapor including an organic molecule including a functional group at each end for creation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a building block for printing the 3D structure; providing a second vapor including metal ions; applying the first vapor and the second vapor to form molecular-metal SAMs thereby providing a multiple layered SAMs material on the substrate; and applying a force and forming the 3D structure from the multiple layered SAMs material, wherein the 3D structure is provided on the substrate.

A vapor-based method and system for printing a 3D structure are provided. The vapor-based method includes providing a substrate; providing a first vapor including an organic molecule including a functional group at each end for creation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a building block for printing the 3D structure; providing a second vapor including metal ions; applying the first vapor and the second vapor to form molecular-metal SAMs thereby providing a multiple layered SAMs material on the substrate; and applying a force and forming the 3D structure from the multiple layered SAMs material, wherein the 3D structure is provided on the substrate.

A polythiol composition according to exemplary embodiments includes at least two different polythiol-based compounds, wherein a peak area (%) of the polythiol compound represented by C8H18S6, which is measured through a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis graph obtained at a wavelength of 230 nm, ranges from 0.90% to 1.30%. By controlling the sub-polythiol compound, an optical product having excellent transmittance and optical properties can be manufactured.

A polythiol composition according to exemplary embodiments includes at least two different polythiol-based compounds, wherein a peak area (%) of the polythiol compound represented by C8H18S6, which is measured through a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis graph obtained at a wavelength of 230 nm, ranges from 0.90% to 1.30%. By controlling the sub-polythiol compound, an optical product having excellent transmittance and optical properties can be manufactured.