Thermo switchable electronic properties of a gold nanoparticle/hydrogel composite

A well-dispersed gold nanoparticle/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) hydrogel nanocomposite With thermoswitchable electrical properties is prepared by the copolymerization of functional Au nanoparticles with N-isopropylacrylamide. It is found that the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite changes by two orders of magnitude at moderate temperature (T-tran) upon temperature stimuli. The change of electrical properties is reversible during a heating and cooling cycle.