Recent advances in stimuli-responsive core-shell microgel particles: synthesis, characterisation, and applications

TL;DR

This review discusses recent progress in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of stimuli-responsive core-shell microgel particles, highlighting structural analysis techniques and catalytic applications involving nanoparticle incorporation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of new chemical synthesis methods, advanced structural analysis, and innovative applications of core-shell microgels, especially in catalysis and interface stabilization.

Findings

Development of diverse stimuli-responsive microgel systems

Advances in structural analysis using small-angle scattering

Applications in catalysis and interface stabilization

Abstract

Inspired by the path followed by Matthias Ballauff over the past 20 years, the development of thermosensitive core-shell microgel structures is reviewed. Different chemical approaches, from hard nanoparticle cores to double stimuli-responsive microgels have been devised and successfully implemented by many different groups. Some of the rich variety of these systems is presented, as well as some recent progress in structural analysis of such microstructures by small-angle scattering of neutrons or X-rays, including modeling approaches. In the last part, again following early work by the group of Matthias Ballauff, applications with particular emphasis on incorporation of catalytic nanoparticles inside core-shell structures -- stabilizing the nanoparticles and granting external control over activity -- will be discussed, as well as core-shell microgels at interfaces.