A novel solid state photocatalyst for living radical polymerization under UV irradiation

• DOI: 10.1038/srep20779
• Publication Date: 2016-02-11T10:10:48Z
• Authors: Qiang Fu; Thomas G. McKenzie; Jing M. Ren; Shereen Tan; Eunhyung Nam; Greg G. Qiao
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 540; 0210 nano-technology; Article

Abstract This study presents the development of a novel solid state photocatalyst for photoinduced controlled radical polymerization methacrylates under mild UV irradiation (λ max ≈ 365 nm) in absence conventional photoinitiators, metal-catalysts or dye sensitizers. The design was based on our previous finding that organic amines can act synergistic photochemical reaction with thiocarbonylthio compounds to afford well polymethacrylates irradiation. Therefore, current contribution an amine-rich polymer covalently grafted onto substrate, thus creating heterogeneous catalyst would allow facile removal, recovery and recyclability when employed such photopolymerization reactions. Importantly, synthesized using (ssPC) show similarly excellent chemical structural integrity as those catalysed by free amines. Moreover, ssPC could be readily recovered re-used, multiple cycles showing minimal effect catalyst. Finally, various photo-“click” reactions, permitting high yielding conjugations control.