1. Project website creation:  https://sites.google.com/view/smartphoto-atrp

2. Synthesis of two perylene diimide (PDI) based photoinitiators

1. Project website update:  https://sites.google.com/view/smartphoto-atrp

2. Progress of research activities:

Activity 2.1 Synthesis and characterization of two perylene diimide (PDI) based photoinitiators

Activity 2.2. Development of photo-ATRP process using the developed PDI photoinitiators in homogenous media

Activity 2.3 Development of block-copolymers with ion retention capacity

Activity 2.4 Evaluation of the block-copolymers capacity for ions retention

3. Project progress administration

4. Dissemination

A. 4 participations at international conferences

a) Poster - Edina Rusen, Alexandra Mocanu, Raluca Șomoghi, Daniela C. Culiță, Raul Augustin Mitran, Adrian Dinescu, Andreea Matei, Aurel Diacon; “Mechanism of polymer particles formation during the soap-free emulsion terpolymerization of styrene-acrylic acid–N-(isopropyl acrylamide) for photonic crystals fabrication“, - 2nd Bucharest Polymer Conference (http://www.bpc-apmg.upb.ro/index.html) – 9th-11th June 2021, organized by the Advanced Polymer Materials Group (online and physical presence).  (link http://www.bpc-apmg.upb.ro/Book_of_Abstracts.pdf)

b) Invited presentation - Aurel Diacon, Alexandra Mocanu, Cristian Eugen Răducanu, Cristina Busuioc, Raluca Șomoghi, Bogdan Trică, Adrian Dinescu, Edina Rusen; “Synthesis of ZnO with enhanced photocatalytic activity using a sacrificial biomass support and Li2O as doping agent“ - The 3rd International Workshop - Advances On Photocatalysis - AdvPhotoCat-EE 2021 (https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/), 28-29 June 2021, ONLINE, (organized by the Microtechnology Institute - IMT București and Hellenic Mediterranean University, Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Heraklion, Creta, Greece. (link - https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/book_of_abstract_FINAL_m.pdf)

c) Poster presentation - Edina Rusen, Florica Rizea, Alexandra Mocanu, Adrian Trifan, Diana-Ioana Buliga, Adrian Dinescu, Cristina Stavarache, Adi Ghebaur, Daniela C. Culiţă, Aurel Diacon; “Core-shell particles with thermo-responsive wetting characteristics obtained by photo-mediated suspension polymerization” - The 3rd International Workshop - Advances On Photocatalysis - AdvPhotoCat-EE 2021 (https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/), 28-29 June 2021, ONLINE, (organized by the Microtechnology Institute - IMT București and Hellenic Mediterranean University, Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, Heraklion, Creta, Greece. (link - https://photocatalysis-workshop.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/book_of_abstract_FINAL_m.pdf)

d) Oral presentation - keynote: Diana-Ioana Buliga, Aurelian Cristian Boscornea, Ioan Calinescu, Aurel Diacon, Ioana Popa „Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of chlorophylls from spinach by-products using response surface methodology and stabilization of the extracted pigments by encapsulation” Chemistry World Conference, 06-07 September, 2021 (online) (link - https://chemistryworldconference.com/program/scientific-program/2021/optimization-of-ultrasound-assisted-extraction-of-chlorophylls-from-spinach-by-products-using-response-surface-methodology-and-stabilization-of-the-extracted-pigments-by-encapsulation)

B. Publication of 2 articles in ISI journals

a) A. Diacon, E. Rusen, F. Rizea, A. Ghebaur, D. Berger, R. Somoghi, A. Matei, P. Palade and O. Tutunaru - One-pot strategy for obtaining magnetic PMMA particles through ATRP using Fe(CO)5 as co-initiator,  European Polymer Journal, ISSN 0014-3057,152 11, 2021, WOS:000652831600001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110446 (Q1 Journal)

b) E. Rusen, A. Mocanu, R. Somoghi, D. C. Culita, R. A. Mitran, A. Dinescu, A. Matei and A. Diacon - Mechanism of polymer particles formation during the soap-free emulsion terpolymerization of styrene - acrylic acid - N -(isopropyl acrylamide) for photonic crystals fabrication,  Colloids and Surfaces a-Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, ISSN 0927-7757,614 11, 2021, WOS:000623251700006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126158 (Q2 Journal)

1. Progress of research activities: Progress of photo-ATRP techniques in heterogeneous media 

A.3.1 Synthesis of ATRP photo-initiators with tensioactive – photoactive emulsifiers or organogelators 

A.3.2 Photo-ATRP homopolymerization procedures in different heterogeneous media

A.3.3 Synthesis of core-shell particles having block-copolymer chemical structures 

A.3.4 Applications development for core-shell particles obtained by Photo-ATRP in heterogeneous media 

A.3.5 Development of Photo-ATRP techniques to be used in a two-photon polymerization process 

A.3.6 Application of 3D structured materials – actuators design 

2. Project progress administration

3. Dissemination

A. Participation at 2 international conferences:

1. Oral presentation - Edina Rusen, Alexandra Mocanu, Raluca Șomoghi, Daniela C. Culiță, Raul Augustin Mitran, Adrian Dinescu, Andreea Matei, Aurel Diacon; “Mechanism of polymer particles formation during the soap-free emulsion terpolymerization of styrene-acrylic acid–N-(isopropyl acrylamide) for photonic crystals fabrication“, - The second edition of Bordeaux Polymer Conference (BPC 2022) (https://bpc2022.u-bordeaux.fr/en/) – 13-16 June 2022, Bordeaux, France

2. Oral presentation - Aurel Diacon, Edina Rusen, Florica Rizea, Alexandra Mocanu, Adrian Trifan, Adrian Dinescu, Cristina Stavarache, Luiza Izabela Jinga, Cristian N. Mihăilescu; “Suspension photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate and surface-initiated ATRP grafting of thermo-responsive polymers“ - 22nd Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (RICCCE22) (https://riccce22.chimie.upb.ro/) – 7-9 September 2022, Sinaia, Romania.

B. Publication of 4 articles in ISI journals (Q1 and Q2):

1. M. G. Bontas, A. Diacon, I. Calinescu, M. I. Necolau, A. Dinescu, G. Toader, R. Ginghina, A. M. Vizitiu, V. Velicu, P. Palade, M. Istrate and E. Rusen - Epoxy Coatings Containing Modified Graphene for Electromagnetic Shielding,  Polymers, ISSN 14 (12),p. 16, 2022, WOS:000816215200001.  https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122508   

2. D. I. Buliga, A. Diacon, I. Calinescu, I. Popa, E. Rusen, A. Ghebaur, O. Tutunaru and C. A. Boscornea - Enhancing the light fastness of natural dyes by encapsulation in silica matrix,  Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology a-Chemistry, ISSN 1010-6030,432 13, 2022, WOS:000826687700003.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114085 

3. E. Rusen, A. Diacon, R. A. Mitran, A. Dinescu, C. Nistor, R. Somoghi, A. C. Boscornea and D. Manaila-Maximean - E7 nematic liquid crystal encapsulated in a polymeric photonic crystal,  European Polymer Journal, ISSN 0014-3057,175 8, 2022, WOS:000818446300001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111374 

4. Diacon, A.; Rizea, F.; Mocanu, A.; Dinescu, A.; Stavarache, C.; Jinga, L.I.; Mihăilescu, C.N.; Rusen, E. Suspension Photopolymerization of Methyl Methacrylate and ATRP Grafting of Thermo-Responsive Polymers Using a Perylediimide Derivative Photoinitiator. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering n/a, 2300274, doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202300274.

C. BDI article (Web of Science: Emerging Sources Citation Index)

1. Diana-Ioana BULIGA, Ioana POPA, Aurel DIACON, Aurelian Cristian BOSCORNEA - OPTIMIZATION OF ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED EXTRACTION OF CHLOROPHYLL USING DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS AND STABILITY IMPROVEMENT VIA ENCAPSULATION, UPB Scientific Bulletin, Series B: Chemistry and Materials Science,  Vol. 84, Iss. 4, 2022, https://www.scientificbulletin.upb.ro/rev_docs_arhiva/rezef3_527014.pdf