Abstract
This review describes the use of nanocrystal-based photocatalysts as quantum photoinitiators, including semiconductor nanocrystals (e.g., metal oxides, metal sulfides, quantum dots), carbon dots, graphene-based nanohybrids, plasmonic nanocomposites with organic photoinitiators, and tunable upconverting nanocomposites. The optoelectronic properties, cross-linking behavior, and mechanism of action of quantum photoinitiators are considered. The challenges and prospects associated with the use of quantum photoinitiators for processes such as radical polymerization, reversible deactivation radical polymerization, and photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization are reviewed. Due to their unique capabilities, we forsee a growing role for quantum photoinitiators over the coming years.
Highlights
The use of novel photoinitiators (PIs) for free-radical polymerization has attracted significant attention from the scientific community [1,2,3,4,5]
The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) activator species were prepared by photoinduced redox reactions; the polymerization was mediated by the level of the ATRP catalyst
A simple melt-m in a twin-screw extruder was used to load quantum dots (QD) nanocrystals into poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) [71]. Both bar and core–shell cadmium sulfide (CdS)–ZnS QDs were prepared using colloidal chemistry using a single ecule precursor; functionalization with a silane coupling agent such as (3-mercap pyl) trimethoxysilane was used to improve their compatibility with PEVA
Summary
The use of novel photoinitiators (PIs) for free-radical polymerization has attracted significant attention from the scientific community [1,2,3,4,5]. Semiconductor nanocrystals have attracted attention due to their capacity to function as photocatalysts for many types of chemical reactions; these materials offer unique advantages, such as efficient light-harvesting activity, tunable properties, and large surface area-to-volume ratios [2]. These nanocrystals exhibit quantum confinement effects; the properties of these materials may be modified by synthetic control over nanocrystal size, shape, and composition [2]. Hakobyan et al demonstrated a reversible-deactivation radical polymerization process involving photo-induced electron transfer; solid Bi2O3, which is nontoxic and
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