Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Grafting Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Polystyrene to Enable Self-Assembly and Anisotropic Patchiness
Published on: April 1, 2018
Visible Light Induced Cationic Polymerization of Epoxides by Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
Marco Sangermano1, Damian Rodriguez2, Monica C Gonzalez2
1Politecnico di Torino, Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy.
Abstract:
The visible light induced cationic polymerization of epoxides can be achieved by means of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which act as visible light photoinitiators via a radical-induced cationic photopolymerization process. When MWCNTs are irradiated with longer wavelengths (above 400 nm), they generate carbon radicals, by means of hydrogen abstraction from the epoxy monomer; these radicals are oxidized in the presence of iodonium salt to a carbocation that is sufficiently reactive to start the cationic ring-opening polymerization of an epoxy monomer. These mechanisms have been supported by electron paramagnetic resonance analysis.
More Related Videos
06:49Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Functionalized Vinyl Monomers Using Perylene as a Visible Light Photocatalyst
Published on: April 22, 2016
07:39Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: June 8, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Preparation of Epoxides
Epoxides result from alkene oxidation, which can be achieved by a) air, b) peroxy acids, c) hypochlorous acids, and d) halohydrin cyclization.
Epoxidation with Peroxy Acids
Epoxidation of alkenes via oxidation with peroxy acids involves the conversion of a carbon–carbon double bond to an epoxide using the oxidizing agent meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, commonly known as MCPBA. Since the O–O bond of peroxy acids is very weak, the addition of electrophilic oxygen of peroxy acids to...
Sharpless Epoxidation
Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides
Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides
Structure and Nomenclature of Epoxides