Polymer-grafted gold nanoflowers with temperature-controlled catalytic features by in situ particle growth and polymerization

We report a convenient strategy for the synthesis of polymer-grafted gold nanoflowers by combining an activator regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP) and the reduction of metal ions in a one-pot fashion. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-coated gold nanoflowers (PNIPAM-AuNFs) with controllable sizes, shapes, and shell thickness are obtained and applied as temperature-controlled nanoparticle catalysts for the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol.