Design and fabrication of functional hybrid materials for catalytic applications

Metal nanoparticles, which exhibit properties differing markedly from the properties of their bulk materials, have been widely applied in catalysis in the last two decades. In many cases, the nanoparticles must be affixed to a carrier/support to prevent them from aggregation during catalysis. Hybrid materials based on microgel and metal nanoparticles have been thus developed, which can bind or encapsulate the nanoparticles for various catalytic reactions. The aim of this review is to focus on the catalytic applications of microgel-based hybrid materials. Special emphasis will be paid on the stimuli-sensitive microgel systems with tunable catalytic activity. The synthesis and the catalytic applications of recently reported microgel-based nanoreactors will be discussed.