Fabrication of periodic microstructures by holographic photopolymerization with a low-power continuous-wave laser of 532 nm

A ternary photopolymer system consisting of a new photoinitiator, an oligomer and a binder has been developed. Experiments show that one-, two- and three-dimensional periodic microstructures can be successfully holographically fabricated by single-photon photopolymerization with this material and a low-power (tens of mW) continuous-wave laser at 532 nm. The preparation of this material is explained and its absorption spectra are tested. The optical setup and the experimental results including the diffraction patterns verifying the formation of periodic structures are given. Compared to other methods with the use of high-power lasers, this approach is much more accessible to most laboratories and researchers and therefore may promote the use of holographic fabrication techniques for photonic crystals.