Homogenous photopolymerization of acrylic monomers initiated with ZnO-methacrylate in non-aqueous medium and production of luminescent nanocomposites

Luminescent ZnO/methacrylic acid was demonstrated as an active photoinitiator in the free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in bulk and in organic solvent without a protic solvent or a co-catalyst, producing luminescent nanocomposites for the first time. Excitation between 320 and 390 nm provided the best results but PEGDA was also successfully initiated at 400–500 nm.