Sol–gel synthesis of novel photosensitive material with advanced holographic properties

Abstract

Silver chloride nanoparticle-doped glycidoxypropylsilsesquioxane–titania hybrid films are prepared by the sol–gel method and their hologram-related properties are investigated. The optical absorption of the film embedded with AgCl nanoparticles at a blue laser wavelength is stronger than that of the film embedded with AgBr nanoparticles. The strong absorption of the film with AgCl nanoparticles leads to a considerable increase in absorption in the visible wavelength region upon blue laser irradiation. This phenomenon is generally implicated in good hologram formation ability of the film. A simultaneous addition of AgNO₃ and CCl₃COOH from separate vessels to the sol realizes homogeneous dispersion of AgCl in the hybrid films. The diffraction efficiency of the film exposed to an interferential blue laser shows a good hologram formation ability of the film and a high reliability for readout-angle deviation.