Abstract
The photoredox catalysis approach is used to initiate the free radical promoted cationic photopolymerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVK) under very soft irradiation conditions (halogen lamp, blue or green LED bulbs) using visible-light harvesting photocatalysts (mainly Ir(III) complexes) in iodonium salt and silane containing photoinitiating systems. The reactions were shown to proceed via an oxidative catalytic cycle where the generated free radicals are oxidized into cations. The effect of NVK on this catalytic cycle is discussed. Epoxy/NVK matrixes can also be polymerized. The luminescent properties of the synthesized polymers are presented.