Holographic recording in photoreactive nanoparticles-dispersed photopolymer

Abstract

Photopolymers are prominent materials for volume holographic storage media. Although photopolymers have various advantages such as high energetic sensitivity, low cost, and processability, volume shrinkage and low refractive index modulation ($\Delta n$) are remaining issues for practical application. In this study, photoreactive nanoparticles-dispersed photopolymer systems are demonstrated. The incorporation of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) as second photopolymerizable monomer contributes to significantly enhancing photosensitivity as well as refractive index modulation ($\Delta n$). We also found that during the formation of holographic gratings, polymerization of POSS could effectively suppress conformational shrinkage of the matrix polymer chains, resulting in noticeable improvement of dimensional stability.