Temperature-responsive hybrid microgels for catalytic applications: a review

Temperature-responsive hybrid microgels have been extensively used as catalyst for degradation of toxic chemicals in the last 10 years. Various architectures of such kind of hybrid microgels with tunable catalytic activity have been reported in literature. Recent research progress in synthesis, characterisation and catalytic applications of various hybrid microgels based on N-isopropylacrylamide has been described critically in this article. Mechanism of catalysis and factors affecting the rate of catalysis by hybrid microgels have been discussed in the light of research done in this area. Possible future studies for further development in this area have been also predicted in this article.