Nanocomposite volume holographic gratings incorporated with ultrahigh refractive index hyperbranched polymer for diffractive optical elements

Abstract

We report on the characterization of volume holographic gratings recorded in photopolymerizable nanocomposites incorporated with hyperbranched polymer (HBP) acting as transporting organic nanoparticles. The HBP possesses ultrahigh index of refraction owing to the inclusion of triazine and aromatic ring units. Such an HBP was easy to disperse into acrylate monomer without any aggregation, so that films with good optical quality are available. A transmission volume grating with refractive index changes up to 2.3×10-2 was obtained at 27 vol.% HBP concentration and 7 vol.% multifunctional acrylate monomer at a wavelength of 532 nm.