Background

The current commercial photo-initiators are unsuitable for radical-polymerization of adhesive coatings and 2&3D printing due to their poor water solubilitylow efficiency and restricted suitability to the emerging LED technology.

There is an evolving need for more efficient photo-initiators in the 3D biomedical industry which develops scaffold for tissue engineering, smart capsules for drug delivery, dental implants, etc.

Our Innovation

  • We developed a novel platform technology based on photocatalytic colloidal quantum nano-materials. The novel catalysts for light-induced REDOX reactions and reactive species formation enable significant advantages such as:
  • Efficient photocatalytic activity
  • Superior single and two-photon light sensitivity
  • High solubility in various solvents including water
  • High stability allowing prolonged use and multi-functionality
  • Wide and tunable absorption spectra suitable for excitation in the near UV-VIS range

Our nano-materials can efficiently and continuously produce reactive species on demand by near UV-VIS light excitation in both organic and aqueous solvents, allowing the replacement of the traditional polymerization processes currently done in organic solvents and/or with deep UV light sources.

Opportunity

Photo-catalysis, the enhancement of chemical reactions by light, is a powerful approach, beneficial for a wide-range of innovative industries.

The wide range of applications of the current developments covers among others: 

  • Water soluble photo-initiators for 2&3D printing
  • Functional coatings
  • Controlled peroxidase based diagnosis and sensing
  • Phototherapy
  • Antibacterial activity
  • High-Spatial & temporal resolution
  • Waste consumption
  • Green Hydrogen fuel production
  • Water purification
  • Methane emission reduction

PATENT STATUS

Published

Granted US 10,442,944; US ; China