The future of visible light photoinitiators of polymerization for photocrosslinking applications

Photopolymerization under visible light is an active research field whose intense research activity is supported by the recent advances in 3D and 4D printing. Within this perspective article, emerging trends in visible light photopolymerization for photocrosslinking applications will be presented. Notably, the performant multicom-ponent photoinitiating systems extensively used in the past are now progressively discarded in favor of mono-component systems easier to handle. The reduction of side-products formed during polymerization, the reduc-tion of oxygen inhibition, the formation of dyes by intermolecular charge transfer interactions or the develop-ment of more ecological polymerization processes using sunlight as the irradiation source have recently been the focus of intense research efforts. Furthermore, emerging trends in processes favoring the elongation of the polymer lifetime such as self-healing will be presented and this perspective article aims at presenting the most recent breakthroughs in these attempts. To end, the future vision of visible light photopolymerization for pho-tocrosslinking applications will be discussed.

Automated summary

Photopolymerization under visible light is a highly researched field, especially in the context of 3D and 4D printing advancements. This perspective article highlights emerging trends in visible light photopolymerization for photocrosslinking applications. The focus has shifted towards simpler mono-component systems instead of complex multi-component photoinitiating systems, as well as reducing side-products, oxygen inhibition, and developing more eco-friendly polymerization processes using sunlight. The article also explores new trends in elongating polymer lifetime through processes like self-healing, and discusses the future vision of visible light photopolymerization for photocrosslinking applications.