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Visible Light-Activated Photoinitiators for Applications in Domestic Coatings

Project description

New materials hold promise for sustainable polymer synthesis

Polymers are large molecules comprising multiple repeating units. For their forming process – polymerisation – the polymer industry typically uses high-energy light and high temperatures. The aim of the EU-funded Light-COAT project is to find more sustainable and efficient methods to produce polymeric materials. To this end, researchers will study and develop dithiocarbonyl anions (DTCs), a new family of visible-light-absorbing compounds with the potential to act as photoinitiators for polymers. These molecules are easily synthesised, operate at room temperature and are activated by weak visible light (such as solar light or light-emitting diodes), making them ideal candidates for the generation of radicals to initiate polymerisation reactions. The unique features of DTCs will put domestic coating formulations at a significant advantage compared to state-of-the-art coatings.

Objective

The use of light to trigger and control radical polymerisation is a powerful strategy for rational polymer synthesis and advanced materials. Photoinitiated polymerisation is today widely used in industry for several applications. Essential for the continued progress of the field is the discoveries of novel photoinitiators endowed with tailored properties, such as high activity at ambient temperature and the possibility to use visible light instead of UV irradiation to produce radicals in high quantum yields. Using visible light is essential for domestic applications, as there would be no hazards related to exposure to UV light.
Light-COAT aims at preparing new visible-light-activated photoinitiators and evaluate their potential for the formulation of domestic coating compositions. As part of the ERC-2015-CoG project CATA-LUX (681840), focused on developing photochemical synthetic methodologies, we recently identified a family of visible-light-absorbing organic compounds with high potential to act as photoinitiators for polymer applications. These photoinitiators can be easily synthesised, are activated by weak light, including solar light or simple light-emitting-diodes, provide access to colourless polymeric materials, and have shown potential for applications in domestic indoor/outdoor coatings. These unique features make this novel family of photoinitiators suitable to enhance convenience in use (reduced drying time and improved weatherproof feature), offering a strong opportunity to improve domestic coating formulations.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum Pilot

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2019-PoC

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Host institution

FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 150 000,00
Address
AVENIDA PAISSOS CATALANS 16
43007 TARRAGONA
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Tarragona
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

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