Improved thermal stability of volume holograms recorded in nanoparticle-polymer composite films

We examine thermal distortions of volume holograms recorded in (meth)acrylate photopolymers doped with SiO2 or ZrO2 nanoparticles. A holographic method is used to evaluate the temperature-induced Bragg-angle detuning of recorded volume holograms as a result of thermally induced refractive index and dimensional changes. It is found that the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles into photopolymer leads to the effective suppression of these thermal changes, thereby extending the range of operating temperatures for their use in photonic applications. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.