New bifunctional carbazolyl-containing monomers were synthesized and their cationic photo-initiated polymerization investigated. The monomers containing two reactive groups such as epoxy. oxetanyl and vinyloxyethyl, were prepared from commercially available 9-(2,3-epoxypropyl)carbazole. The kinetics of UV curing of the monomers was monitored by real-time FT-IR technique. The type of functionality was found to have a considerable influence on the photo-curing rate, but has not an evident effect on the final reactive group conversion. The cross-linked systems were found to have low glass transition temperatures ranging from 7 to 10 degrees C. Electron photoemission spectroscopy revealed ionization potentials of 5.75-5.8 eV for the thin cross-linked layers of the monomers. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.