Silver-nanoparticle immobilized initiator and co-initiators for free radical polymerization

The specific properties of silver-nanoparticle immobilized initiator and co-initiators for free radical polymerization were studied. The silver-nanoparticle immobilized benzophenone photoinitiates the free radical polymerization in both UV and visible regions. The photoinitiation ability of Bp-MPCs in visible region suggests a possible two-photon action even at low intensity of an incident light. The co-initiation process by MA-MPCs is more efficient in comparison to the co-initiation observed for corresponding free mercaptoamino acid. This behavior can be attributed to: (i) specific interaction of sulfur electron with surface plasmon electrons that make an electron transfer from mercaptoamino acid to excited electron acceptor more efficient, or (ii) to a locally higher concentration of electron donor (in the ligand shell) in comparison to classical a single-phase solution.