Low-Toxicity Photopolymer for Reflection Holography

A novel composition for a low-toxicity, water-soluble, holographic photopolymer capable of recording bright reflection gratings with diffraction efficiency of up to 50% is reported. The unique combination of two chemical components, namely, a chain transfer agent and a free radical scavenger, is reported to enhance the holographic recording ability of a diacetone acrylamide (DA)-based photopolymer in reflection mode by 3-fold. Characterization of the dependence of diffraction efficiency of the reflection gratings on spatial frequency, recording intensity, exposure energy, and recording wavelength has been carried out for the new low-toxicity material. The use of UV postexposure as a method of improving the stability of the photopolymer-based reflection holograms is reported. The ability of the modified DA photopolymer to record bright Denisyuk holograms which are viewable in different lighting conditions is demonstrated.

LED-Cured Reflection Gratings Stored in an Acrylate-Based Photopolymer

The storage of volume holographic reflection gratings in low-toxicity photopolymers represents a challenge at present since they can be used in many important applications such as biosensors and holographic optical elements. In this context, an acrylate-based photopolymer developed in our research group was employed to study the recording of unslanted holographic reflection gratings at high spatial frequencies. The optimal preparation conditions of the photopolymer layers were determinated. The diffraction efficiencies are measured in both recording and curing stage and a comparative study of these values was realized. In addition, a theoretical study using Kogelnik's coupled wave theory was carried out with the aim of understanding the diffraction efficiency behaviour of both processes. In this work, a maximum diffraction efficiency of 14.1% was reached after a curing process in 150 µm layers at a recording wavelength of 488 nm. This value represents a good result compared to that reported in the literature and opens the way to reflection mode holography research using low-toxicity material.