In situ generation of Ag nanoparticles during photopolymerization by using newly developed dyes‐based three‐component photoinitiating systems and the related 3D printing applications and their shape change behavior

International audienceSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) play a crucial role in biology and medical research as their extensive and efficient antibacterial activity and high electrical and thermal conductivity. However, the generation of them with a certain morphology under mild conditions (under air, solvent-free, room temperature, etc.,) is still a huge challenge. Herein, a simple one-step method is proposed to generate AgNPs in situ at room temperature under air by combining the photopolymerization process with the formation process of AgNPs within a few minutes. In detailed, 12 different dyes based on 2,5-diethylene-cyclopentan-1-one were first synthesized and used as high-performance type II photoinitiator. When using in conjunction of bis-(4-tert-butylphenyl) iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Iod) and ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (EDB), they can effectively boost the free radical photopolymerization (FRP) of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA) and the cationic photopolymerization (CP) of 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-3,4-epoxycyclohexane carboxylate (EPOX) upon irradiation with LED@405 nm. Furthermore, all the formulations containing/without AgNPs can be successfully used to perform the direct laser write experiment. However, even if all of the obtained 3D patterns exhibited reversible swelling performance and shape-memory effects caused by swelling and dehydration for the access to 4D printing, the presence of AgNPs will affect these properties