Light-Mediated Polymerization Catalyzed by Carbon Nanomaterials

Carbon nanomaterials, specifically carbon dots and carbon nitrides, play a crucial role as heterogeneous photoinitiators in both radical and cationic polymerization processes. These recently introduced materials offer promising solutions to the limitations of current homogeneous systems, presenting a novel approach to photopolymerization. This review highlights the preparation and photocatalytic performance of these nanomaterials, emphasizing their application in various polymerization techniques, including photoinduced i) free radical, ii) RAFT, iii) ATRP, and iv) cationic photopolymerization. Additionally, it discusses their potential in addressing contemporary challenges and explores prospects in this field. Moreover, carbon nitrides, in particular, exhibit exceptional oxygen tolerance, underscoring their significance in radical polymerization processes and allowing their applications such as 3D printing, surface modification of coatings, and hydrogel engineering. Photomediated polymerizations replace traditional methods due to cost-efficiency, sustainability, and temporal control. Heterogeneous photocatalysts, specifically carbon nanomaterials (dots and nitrides), bring many advantages. They ' re derived inexpensively from biomass and highly efficient in various polymerization modes. This review covers their preparation, photocatalytic properties, and use in various polymerization methods. It also discusses their applications, and future prospects and challenges. image