Photopolymeric material based on an organic-inorganic sol-gel matrix for holography

The methods of formation and properties of a holographic photopolymeric material (PPM) of thickness 0.5-1.0 mm in a hybrid organic-inorganic matrix are investigated. The matrix is formed by synthesizing the cofspolymer N-vinylpyrrolidone with triethoxyvinylsilane with subsequent hydrolytic condensation of this copolymer with tetraethoxysilane pre-sol. It is shown that a solid hybrid matrix, stable against cracking, can be formed at a pre-sol-copolymer weight ratio of 1:4. Transmission and reflection holograms in a hybrid PPM of thickness 0.46 mm are recorded, and it is shown that the angular selectivity of the transmission hologram is 0.17° and that the material shrinkage measured from changes in the Bragg angle of the transmission hologram does not exceed 0.7%. The holographic characteristics obtained have been improved by an order of magnitude as against PPM in an organic polymeric matrix. Formation of a photopolymeric material for recording highly selective holograms in a hybrid organic-inorganic matrix is a promising approach in the development of photosensitive media for a three-dimensional holographic memory. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.