Photopolymerizable nanocomposite photonic materials and their holographic applications in light and neutron optics

Abstract

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.

Monte-Carlo simulation of neutron transmission through nanocomposite materials for neutron-optics applications

“…The sample was a holographic nanoparticle-polymer grating [7] of about 100 µm thickness including 20 vol% of SiO 2 nanoparticles. It contained hydrogen isotopes in natural elemental composition (a protonated sample).…”

“…The decisive neutron-optical features of such gratings can be chosen so that the gratings work as beam splitters, three-port beam splitters or mirrors for long-wavelength neutrons as demonstrated in Refs. [4,5,6,7]. Furthermore, colloidal crystals loaded with superparamagnetic nanoparticles [see Fig.…”

Современное Состояние Разработки Светочувствительных Сред Для Голографии (Обзор)

“…Механизм фо-тополимеризации таких композитных материалов со-стоит в перемещении наночастиц из облученных в необлученные участки интерференционной решетки (рис. 1) [58,59].…”

“…Детальный анализ полученных результатов в разработке фотополимеризующихся композиций был использован для уточнения направлений дальнейшего совершенствования голографических свойств регистри-рующих сред этого типа [84].…”

“…Для получения голограмм с η = 16% в слоях толщиной несколько сотен микрон использовался также полимерный слой, включающий ФХ, ПММА и поливинилбутираль, размещенный между стеклянными пластинами [95,84].…”