Nanocomposites based on transparent polymer matrices containing nanoparticles (NPs) of noble metals are modern-day materials that can be specially designed for photonics, linear and nonlinear optics, laser physics and sensing applications. We present the improved photosensitive nanocomposites doped with Au and Ag NPs allowing fabrication of high effective submicrometer dimensional diffraction structures using holographic method. A general approach for the fabrication of holographic structures using a two-component mixture of the monomers of different reactivity was developed. Two different methods, ex situ and in situ, were studied to introduce Au and Ag NPs in the polymer matrix. The diffusion model of the grating formation upon holographic exposure as well as the process of Ag NP synthesis in a polymer matrix is considered. The influence of the NP size on the polymerization process, material dynamic range and nonlinear properties were investigated. The mechanisms and characteristics of the nanocomposite nonlinear optical response are discussed.

Thin-film organic distributed feedback (DFB) lasers processed with elastomeric polymers allow fabrication of flexible and continuously tunable coherent light sources. So far, the realized laser devices fall short on broad continuous tuning range. We demonstrate that the addition of plasticizers to the polymer matrix and the minimization of the thickness of the laser can reduce mechanical impact and, thus, extend the wavelength tuning range to the full gain range of the active medium. A contact-transfer method is used to transfer gently the ultra-thin membrane DFB laser to a silicone support. A continuous tuning of the laser wavelength up to 77 nm in the orange-red spectral range of a single laser dye was achieved by mechanical stretching of the supporting film with a DFB membrane laser on top.