Dual-functional dithiolane diacrylate enables self-photoinitiated dithiolane–ene copolymerization for robust UV adhesives

A dual-functional dithiolane diacrylate, (1,2-dithiolane-4,4-diyl)bis(methylene) diacrylate (DT), was designed to integrate intrinsic photoinitiating and crosslinking functions within a single monomer, enabling self-photoinitiated dithiolane-ene copolymerization without external photoinitiators. EPR spectroscopy confirmed the radical mechanism. Copolymerization of DT with acrylamides produced robust UV-cured networks with high optical transparency and strong glass-to-glass, glass-to-polycarbonate, and glass-to-FR4 adhesion.