We investigate volume holographic recording in a ZrO2 nanoparticle-polymer composite film at a wavelength of 404 nm. Dependences of the polymerization kinetics on concentrations of an initiator and ZrO2 nanoparticles doped in acrylate monomer are examined by using a photodifferential scanning calorimeter. It is found that there exists the optimum concentration of ZrO2 nanoparticles to maximize the polymerization rate. The diffraction and scattering properties of transmission volume gratings are also investigated. It is found that the refractive index modulation and the material recording sensitivity are as high as 8×10−3 and 9000 cm/J, respectively, at the optimum ZrO2 nanoparticle concentration of 35 vol % and at a recording intensity of 5 mW/cm2. These material parameters are larger than typical minimum ones of 5×10−3 and 500 cm/J, respectively, for optimized performance in holographic data storage.

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