Chapter 9 - Smart polymer reactors and switchable catalysis

Abstract

Catalysis is the cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, and the realization of smart catalysts with switchable catalytic ability is increasingly becoming a common objective. The recent advances in new-concept catalysts, particularly switchable polymer reactors represented by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)-supported metal nanoparticles (NPs), and the idea of using smart polymer materials as catalysts, originally inspired by the release and control of drugs, have made this objective possible. We show the basic principles involved in the design and structure of smart polymer reactors, the nature of tunable catalytic behavior, interactions between polymer molecule chains, including covalent bonds, noncovalent bonds, hydrophobic effects, and metal coordinated bonds. We describe some exemplary applications of polymer reactors by combining this information with practical limits. We focus on the development of new designs, principles, and switchable mechanisms involved in polymer reactors. The use of innovative designs and concepts generated the prepared polymer reactors with new response features, thereby making smart polymer reactors smarter.