We demonstrate volume holographic recording in silica-nanoparticle-dispersed methacrylate photopolymers with reduced scattering loss as low as 2%. This is made possible by use of 13-nm silica nanoparticles. As a result a net diffraction efficiency near 100% is achieved for a transmission volume hologram of 45-μm thickness. Grating buildup dynamics are measured for various nanoparticle concentrations, and the effects of nanoparticle size on refractive-index modulation and polymerization shrinkage are also evaluated.

We report on experimental verification of mass transfer of nanoparticles during holographic recording in nanoparticle-dispersed photopolymers. Through direct observations of the microscopic structure of recorded holograms as well as optical measurements of the phase shift between the light interference pattern and a recorded hologram we find that holographic exposure causes nanoparticles to be redistributed from bright to dark regions, leading to periodic assembly of nanoparticles and thereby to formation of high-contrast holograms.

We present an overview of recent investigations of photopolymerizable nanocomposite photonic materials in which, thanks to their high degree of material selectivity, recorded volume gratings possess high refractive index modulation amplitude and high mechanical/thermal stability at the same time, providing versatile applications in light and neutron optics. We discuss the mechanism of grating formation in holographically exposed nanocomposite materials, based on a model of the photopolymerization-driven mutual diffusion of monomer and nanoparticles. Experimental inspection of the recorded grating’s morphology by various physicochemical and optical methods is described. We then outline the holographic recording properties of volume gratings recorded in photopolymerizable nanocomposite materials consisting of inorganic/organic nanoparticles and monomers having various photopolymerization mechanisms. Finally, we show two examples of our holographic applications, holographic digital data storage and slow-neutron beam control.

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We report on the use of hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) acting as mobile organic nanoparticles doped in methacrylate photopolymers for highly efficient volume holographic recording. Two types of reduced HBPs having the average size of $10\mathrm{nm}$ are synthesized. The diffraction efficiency near 100% in the green $\left(532\mathrm{nm}\right)$ and substantive polymerization-shrinkage suppression in this photopolymer system are demonstrated. Periodic assembly of HBPs under holographic exposure is also observed.