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“Intelligent” polymer nanocomposites have been an intensely popular research topic for several decades. These materials are based on combinations of two technologies: 1) the bottom-up synthesis of nanoparticles to assign a novel functionality and 2) the top-down photolithography of polymers to create desirable microstructures. Such intelligent nanocomposites are comprised of functional nanoparticles embedded in polymer mesh, and these nanoparticles enable polymers to display functions and properties that natural polymers cannot possibly show. Herein, we introduce and categorize intelligent polymer nanocomposites according to their functional applications. Three main categories are covered in this review: polymer nanocomposites with magnetic, optical, and biological functions. The statuses of this research field are covered, and the future directions of polymer nanocomposite research are discussed.
Song et al. (Tue,) studied this question.