Volume holographic data storage is one of the most promising techniques to improve both the storage capacity of devices and the transfer data rate. Among the materials proposed as storage data media, azobenzene containing polymers have received much attention. Some of their properties seem to be suitable for holographic storage applications. However, they still present several problems, mainly those related with light sensitivity, response time and stability of the stored information. In this article we review the work performed on volume holographic storage using azobenzene containing polymers as well as the different approaches that have been proposed to overcome those problems.

The initial formation of initiating sites for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) on various polymer surfaces and numerous inorganic and metallic surfaces is elaborated. The subsequent ATRP grafting of a multitude of monomers from such surfaces to generate thin covalently linked polymer coatings is discussed briefly in order to provide a readily accessible survey. The potential for achieving a range of well-defined biofunctionalities, such as inhibition of non-specific fouling, immobilization of biomolecules, separation of proteins, adsorbents for proteins or cells, antibacterial activity, and encapsulation of drugs in particular provided by these surface-grafted polymers is described.