We report on successful tests of holographically arranged grating-structures in nanoparticle-polymer composites in the form of 100 microns thin free-standing films, i.e. without sample containers or covers that could cause unwanted absorption/incoherent scattering of very-cold neutrons. Despite their large diameter of 2 cm, the flexible materials are of high optical quality and yield mirror-like reflectivity of about 90% for neutrons of 4.1 nm wavelength.
We report on volume holographic recording in photopolymerizble nanocomposite materials using inorganic SiO 2 nanoparticles dispersed in thiol-ene monomers capable of stepgrowth photopolymerization with various stoichiometric thiol-ene ratios. It is shown that while the refractive index modulation is maximized at the stoichiometric composition, polymerization shrinkage decreases with increasing the thiol monomer fraction.
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