Large‐Scale Synthesis of Organophilic Zirconia Nanoparticles and their Application in Organic–Inorganic Nanocomposites for Efficient Volume Holography

Abstract We present a multigram scale, one‐step nonaqueous synthesis route to monodisperse, highly crystalline ZrO 2 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be stabilized in nonpolar solvents via a simple functionalization procedure using only minute amounts of organic stabilizers. Their great potential in materials applications is demonstrated by the fabrication of organic–inorganic nanocomposites that can be selectively photopolymerized to inscribe extremely effective and volume holographic gratings with the highest refractive index contrast ( n 1 of up to 0.024) achieved so far.