Multifunctionality in metal@microgel colloidal nanocomposites

Abstract

The integration of metal nanoparticles within crosslinked polymeric microgels, in a well-defined core–shell structure, offers unique possibilities in various fields due to the potential to introduce multiple functionalities by tailoring the properties of the inorganic and the organic components. This Highlight describes recent developments related to hybrid nanocomposites comprising a metal core and a smart microgel shell. Different synthesis approaches for the preparation of such hybrid systems are described, including not only surface-initiated polymerization, but also in situ chemical reactions for core optimization and functionality addition. The main properties derived from the multifunctionality of these nanocomposites are also addressed and potential applications in the fields of catalysis and sensing are presented.