Optical data storage media

1. An optical data storage medium for bit-wise recording of a microhologram using an incident radiation at a wavelength of about 405 nm, comprising:

(a) a non-photopolymer polymer matrix;

(b) a non-linear sensitizer comprising a phenylethynyl platinum complex, wherein the phenylethynyl platinum complex is a sequential two-photon reverse saturable absorber,

wherein the non-linear sensitizer is capable of triplet-triplet energy transfer from an upper triplet state (T n ) of the non-linear sensitizer to a lower triplet state (T 1 ) of a reactant, wherein “n” is an integer greater than 1; and

(c) a reactant capable of undergoing a chemical change upon the triplet-triplet energy transfer from the non-linear sensitizer, thereby causing a refractive index change in the medium to record the microhologram.

2. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the optical data storage medium is capable of recording the microhologram at 405 nm when an intensity of the incident radiation is greater than a threshold value, and

wherein the optical data storage medium is substantially non-responsive to the incident radiation at 405 nm when the intensity of the incident radiation is lower than the threshold value.

3. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the non-linear sensitizer is substantially transparent to the incident radiation at about 405 nm when an intensity of the incident radiation is lower than a threshold value, and

wherein the non-linear sensitizer is capable of absorbing the incident radiation at about 405 nm when the intensity of the incident radiation is greater than the threshold value, thereby transitioning to the upper triplet state T n .

4. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the lowest triplet (T 1 ) energy of the reactant is greater than the lowest triplet energy (T 1 ) of the non-linear sensitizer and lower than or substantially equal to an upper triplet (T n ) energy of the non-linear sensitizer.

5. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the lowest triplet (T 1 ) energy of the reactant and the lowest triplet (T 1 ) energy of the non-linear sensitizer is greater than about 2 kcal/mole.

6. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the lowest triplet (T 1 ) energy of the reactant and the lowest triplet (T 1 ) energy of the non-linear sensitizer is greater than about 10 kcal/mole.

7. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the non-linear sensitizer comprises bis(tributylphosphine)bis(4-ethynylbiphenyl)platinum, bis(tributylphosphine)bis(4-ethynyl-1-(2-phenylethynyl)benzene)platinum, bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-n-butylphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt (II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-fluorophenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4methoxyphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-methylphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt (II), bis(1-ethynyl-4(3,5-dimethoxyphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-nbutylphosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl-phosphine)Pt(II), or combinations thereof.

8. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the optical data storage medium further comprises a mediator capable of transferring triplet energy from the non-linear sensitizer to the reactant.

9. The optical data storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the mediator comprises acetophenone, dimethylphthalate, benzophenone, 9H-fluorene, biphenyl, phenanthrene, 1-napthonitrile, or combinations thereof.

10. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the medium is substantially free of the mediator.

11. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the reactant comprises stilbenes.

12. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the reactant comprises cinnamates, cinnamamides, or combinations thereof.

13. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the reactant is dispersed in the polymer matrix.

14. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the reactant is bonded to the polymer matrix.

15. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyvinylalcohol, poly(alkyl methacrylate), poly(alkyl acrylate), polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), or combinations thereof.

16. The optical data storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the microhologram is capable of being read without substantial reaction at a wavelength of about 405 nm and at an intensity lower than a threshold value.

17. The optical storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the reactant is substantially non-responsive to the incident radiation.

18. An optical data storage medium for bit-wise recording of a microhologram using an incident radiation at a wavelength of about 405 nm, comprising:

(a) a non-photopolymer polymer matrix;

(b) a non-linear sensitizer comprising bis(tributylphosphine)bis(4-ethynylbiphenyl)platinum, bis(tributylphosphine)bis(4-ethynyl-1-(2-phenylethynyl)benzene)platinum, bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-n-butylphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt (II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-fluorophenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-methoxyphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4-(4-methylphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl)phosphine)Pt (II), bis(1-ethynyl-4(3,5-dimethoxyphenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-nbutylphosphine)Pt(II), bis(1-ethynyl-4(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenylethynyl)benzene)bis(tri-n-butyl-phosphine)Pt(II), or combinations thereof,

wherein the non-linear sensitizer is capable of triplet-triplet energy transfer from an upper triplet state (T n ) of the non-linear sensitizer to a lower triplet state (T 1 ) of a reactant, wherein “n” is an integer greater than 1; and

(c) a reactant capable of undergoing a chemical change upon the triplet-triplet energy transfer from the non-linear sensitizer, thereby causing a refractive index change in the medium to record the microhologram.

19. An optical data storage medium for bit-wise recording of a microhologram using an incident radiation at a wavelength of about 405 nm, comprising:

(a) a non-photopolymer polymer matrix;

(b) a non-linear sensitizer comprising a sequential two-photon reverse saturable absorber comprising a phenylethynyl platinum complex,

wherein the non-linear sensitizer is capable of triplet-triplet energy transfer from an upper triplet state (T n ) of the non-linear sensitizer to a lower triplet state (T 1 ) of a reactant, wherein “n” is an integer greater than 1; and

(c) a reactant comprising, cinnamates, cinnamades, or combinations thereof,

wherein the reactant is capable of undergoing a chemical change upon the triplet-triplet energy transfer from the non-linear sensitizer, thereby causing a refractive index change in the medium to record the microhologram.