Photopolymerization of acrylamide induced by colloidal graphene oxide

Photochemical activity of colloidal graphene oxide in initiating of the acrylamide photopolymerization in aqueous solutions under the illumination with the visible light (λ > 420 nm) is reported for the first time. By photochemical activity graphene oxide occupies an intermediary place among typical visible-light-sensitive water-soluble photoinitiators of acrylamide polymerization. The photoinitiation involves photoexcited oxygen-containing functional groups of graphene oxide particles, the polymerization rate growing with an increase in the content of such functional groups and lowering drastically at their photoinduced elimination. The photopolymerization kinetics indicates the possibility of graphene oxide participation in the chain termination and shows that the aggregation of graphene oxide particles results in a decrease of their photochemical activity.

► Graphene oxide is a photoinitiator of acrylamide polymerization.
► Polymerization is induced by photoelimination of functional groups of graphene oxide.
► Photopolymerization rate decreases after reduction of graphene oxide.
► Photopolymerization rate depends on the aggregation degree of graphene oxide nanosheets.