PhotoRAFT Polymerization of Vinylidene Fluoride Using a Household White LED as Light Source at Room Temperature

Abstract

The photoRAFT (RAFT=reversible addition-fragmentation radical transfer) polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) mediated by O-ethyl-S-(1-methoxycarbonyl)ethyl dithiocarbonate using a household white LED as light source at room temperature is presented. PVDFs with molar masses up to ca. 8000 g mol−1 and low dispersities (1.11–1.49) were obtained. Kinetic experiments revealed that the use of Ir(ppy)3 as photoredox catalyst lead to faster polymerization. A slowdown of the chain equilibration process was observed during the polymerization, attributed to the accumulation of the less reactivatable CF2−CH2−Xa terminated chains.