Doping a polymer matrix with a minute amount of graphene (0.050.25%) had significant effects on the grating formation kinetics and electro-optical performance of a holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal. Low graphene contents (=0.1%) reduced the viscosity and induced rapid diffusion, curing, grating formation, and high diffraction efficiency with a diffraction overshoot of 0.05%. Conversely, high graphene contents increased the compound viscosity, and the entire process proceeded slowly. Graphene increased the polymer conductivity and local electric field, reduced the operating voltage from 65 to 2550 V, and increased the contrast ratio from 7 to 823 with a concomitant decrease in rise time. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012