Infrared laser-ignited horizontal frontal polymerization of versatile unsaturated polyester resins

Infrared laser-ignited horizontal frontal polymerization is applied for the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resin (UPER) by copolymerizing unsaturated polyester with styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and 2-dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) monomers. Dependence of frontal velocity and temperature on the initiator and monomer concentration is discussed for St-based UPER. These resins have also been characterized by Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal St-based resins have superior crosslinked networks. Besides, the thermo-pH responsiveness behaviors of DMAEMA-based resins are demonstrated by swelling measurements under the conditions of different temperatures and pH values. Moreover, by introducing CdSe@ZnS quantum dots and CsPbBr₃ perovskites into St- and MMA-based resins, respectively, we realize the in situ generation of CdSe@ZnS-UPER and CsPbBr₃-UPER composites with good fluorescence properties and fluorescent stability, which have potential application in optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diode and perovskite solar cells.