THIANTHRENE DERIVATIZED MONOMERS AND POLYMERS FOR VOLUME BRAGG GRATINGS

The disclosure provides thianthrene derivatized monomers and polymers for use in volume Bragg gratings, including, but not limited to, volume Bragg gratings for holography applications. Several thianthrene structures are described, including structures substituted by halogens, sulphur containing groups, phenyl groups, at least one polymerizable group, etc. Thianthrene derivatized polymers in Bragg gratings applications lead to materials with higher refractive index, low birefringence, and less packing in solid state. Thianthrene derivatized monomers/polymers can be used in any volume Bragg gratings materials, including two-stage polymer materials where a matrix is cured in a first step, and then the volume Bragg grating is written by way of a second curing step of a monomer.