A novel route to the preparation of polymer hollow particles decorated with gold nanoparticles in the shell

A novel route was briefly demonstrated to the preparation of polymer hollow particles decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the shell. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, which has reducibility in the formation of noble metallic nanostructures, was first introduced into the shell of poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) hollow particles. Numerous AuNPs were then exclusively generated within the polymer shell by the in situ reduction of gold precursor without any external reducing agent. The AuNPs in the resultant hybrid hollow particles were well sequestered from each other and were ca. 5-20 nm in diameter.