Abstract
The nopal cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) releases a substance through its mucilage, which comes from the degradation of pectic substances and chlorophyll. Combined in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix, this substance can be used as a recording medium. The resulting extract material has excellent photosensitizer properties, is easy to handle, has a low cost, and low toxicity. This material has the property of self-developing, and it can be used in holographic applications. The polyvinyl alcohol and extract from the nopal cactus was deposited by a gravity technique on a glass substrate, which dried to form a photosensitive emulsion. We show experimental results on a holographic grating using this material, written by a He-Cd laser (442 nm). We obtained diffraction gratings by transmission with a diffraction efficiency of approximately 32.3% to first order.
Highlights
Photopolymers can record information with self-developing, without a chemical process for obtaining a holographic image
Along with other preliminary results [12], we show how Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a polymeric matrix sensitized with the mucilage from the nopal cactus and chlorophyll degradation can be used in holographic recording material
We show the experimental results for the diffraction efficiency parameter of holographic gratings, the optimum exposure energy, and the spatial frequency of diffraction gratings to vary the registration angle
Summary
Photopolymers can record information with self-developing, without a chemical process for obtaining a holographic image. These materials haves achieved high recording capacity, light sensitivity, durability, resolution, and longer life for stored information [1,2,3]. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), not directly involved in the photochemical reaction, is an important factor due its high sensitivity to humidity and environmental changes These properties are crucial for the polymeric matrix and significantly affect the physical conditions of the recording medium such as rigidity, environmental stability, and changes upon holographic exposure [9,10]. PVA has been used to make holographic films, which has been doped with different dyes for oxidant stimulating birefringence [11]. Along with other preliminary results [12], we show how PVA as a polymeric matrix sensitized with the mucilage from the nopal cactus and chlorophyll degradation can be used in holographic recording material
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