A facile synthesis of thermo-responsive Au–polymer hybrid microgels through temperature-induced co-aggregation and self-crosslinking

Thermo-responsive Au–polymer hybrid microgels were prepared by a facile temperature-induced co-aggregation and self-crosslinking (TICASC) method, needing no complex operations such as preforming of microgels or prior modification of GNPs. The hybrid microgels were utilized as catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol, which exhibited good activity and recyclability.