| abstract |
A method of generating reactive species which includes providing a wavelength-specific sensitizer associated with a reactive species generating photoinitiator, wherein the wavelength-specific sensitizer comprises a phthalic acid derivative or a phenyl-substituted aliphatic ketone derivative; and irradiating the wavelength-specific sensitizer. The sensitizer absorbs energy and transfers the absorbed energy to the photoinitiator, which, in turn, generates reactive species. The radiation to which the polymolecular photoreactor is exposed generally will have a wavelength of from about 4 to about 1,000 nanometers. Thus, the radiation may be ultraviolet radiation, including near ultraviolet and far or vacuum ultraviolet radiation: visible radiation: and near infrared radiation. Also described are methods of polymerizing unsaturated monomers and curing an unsaturated oligomer/monomer mixture. |