Recent Advances of Transition Metal Complexes for Photopolymerization and 3D Printing under Visible Light

Abstract

The possibility of exploiting visible light to induce polymerizations is extremely appealing from a technological point of view as it improves the sustainability of the overall process. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to employ single‐ or multicomponent systems containing a photoinitiator, and in some cases, a photosensitizer in combination. Due to their long‐lived excited states and reversible redox properties, transition metal complexes are a valid choice to be applied in photoinitiating systems, often exhibiting enhanced conversions compared to purely organic compounds. This review presents an overview of the transition metal complexes exploited in photopolymerization reactions. Particular attention will be devoted to recent applications in 3D printing, highlighting the possible challenges that need to be faced to achieve highly efficient and more sustainable processes.

Incorporation of a one-dimensional electron-rich chain in viologen-based coordination polymers for super photochromic properties and improved optical applications in polyvinyl alcohol film

“…Motivated by the need to create intelligent technology, stimuliresponsive coordination polymers (CPs) have attracted a lot of scientific attention in a variety of applications, including controlled drug delivery, molecular shuttles, recyclable catalysis, separation, nanotechnology, biology, tissue engineering, secret writing, smart windows, rewritable copy paper, and so forth. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Viologens with an electron-deficient nature, whose color can be changed by chemical, electrical, or optical stimuli, are among the many crystalline chromic materials. [10][11][12] Because of their superior electron-accepting capabilities and Lewis acidic sites, viologen derivatives have recently received much attention as multichromic materials, including photochromic, thermochromic, electrochromic, and sensing materials.…”