Preparation and characterization of Irgacure 784 doped photopolymers for holographic data storage at 532 nm

This paper presents the development of a thick photopolymer for holographic data storage at a wavelength of 532 nm. Irgacure 784, one kind of the titanocene photoinitiators, has been selected and doped to synthesize the photopolymers in this research. Using a two-step thermo-polymerization procedure two photopolymer samples have been fabricated, Irgacure 784 doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and Irgacure 784 doped epoxy resin. Samples of 2 mm thick have been fabricated. Holographic measurements show that Irgacure 784 doped epoxy resin is very sensitive at 532 nm and that it is capable of supporting holographic data storage at a ultra-fast recording rate of 760 Mb s−1. Mass spectrum measurement, solid state 1H-NMR spectrum measurement, and thermogravity analyses (TGA) have been performed. The results reveal the physical mechanism of holographic recording in these samples, providing a guideline for a design strategy and fabrication technique to produce a low-shrinkage recording material for holographic data storage in the tera-byte information age.