We demonstrate the use of nanodiamond in constructing holographic nanoparticle-polymer composite transmission gratings with large saturated refractive-index modulation amplitudes at both optical and slow-neutron wavelengths, resulting in efficient control of light and slow-neutron beams. Nanodiamond possesses a high refractive index at optical wavelengths and large coherent and small incoherent scattering cross sections with low absorption at slow-neutron wavelengths. We describe the synthesis of nanodiamond, the preparation of photopolymerizable nanodiamond-polymer composite films, the construction of transmission gratings in nanodiamond-polymer composite films, and light optical diffraction experiments. Results of slow-neutron diffraction from such gratings are also presented.

• Received 11 July 2020
• Revised 3 September 2020
• Accepted 1 October 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.14.044056