Electrochemically engineered hybrid nanoarchitectures of polymers and nanoparticles

Hybrid nanoarchitectures where inorganic nanoparticles are added into a polymer matrix can present superior characteristics and unique synergetic effects. However, the homogeneously structured and monodispersed hy-brid film has been a critical challenge because of the intrinsic incompatibility of hydrophobic nanoparticles and hydrophobic polymers. This review focuses on hierarchically hybrid nanoarchitectures of polymers and nanopar-ticles by electrochemical approaches. Of many methods, the use of electrochemically bottom-up in situ synthesis can prepare the controlled layered and hybrid formations of polymers and nanoparticles. The advantages are film-forming ability from very dilute solutions of nanoparticles and polymers, and covalently cross-linked structural stability. The electrochemical approach has provided highly predicted functions and performances for applica-tions mostly studied including sensor, catalysis, and optoelectric relatives. With these in hand, electrochemically engineered hybrid nanoarchitectures of polymers and nanoparticles hold promise for the fabrication of hierar-chically ordered materials on hardly or flexibly conductive substrates with rational scales and dimensions.

Automated summary

Hybrid nanoarchitectures of polymers and nanoparticles, achieved through the addition of inorganic nanoparticles into a polymer matrix, exhibit superior characteristics and unique synergetic effects. However, the challenge lies in creating homogeneously structured and monodispersed hybrid films due to the inherent incompatibility between hydrophobic nanoparticles and hydrophobic polymers. This review focuses on electrochemical approaches for producing hierarchically hybrid nanoarchitectures, with the use of electrochemically bottom-up in situ synthesis being one of the most effective methods. This approach allows for the controlled layered and hybrid formations of polymers and nanoparticles, resulting in film-forming ability from dilute solutions and covalently cross-linked structural stability. The electrochemical approach has shown promising applications in sensor, catalysis, and optoelectric relatives, making it a valuable tool for fabricating hierarchically ordered materials on conductive substrates.