Diffraction properties of volume holograms recorded in SiO2 nanoparticle-dispersed methacrylate photopolymer films

We report on holographic recording in the green with high diffraction efficiency and recording sensitivity in SiO2 nanoparticle-dispersed methacrylate photopolymer films. Dynamics of diffraction efficiencies and refractive index changes are measured for several SiO2 nanoparticle concentrations and grating spacings. Overmodulation phenomena in the diffraction efficiency are observed in films with the effective thickness of similar to32 mum and high nanoparticle concentrations. It is confirmed that the performance of this material system as holographic recording media is comparable to that of recently reported methacrylate photopolymers doped with TiO2 nanoparticles.