Elastic Magnets: Template-Controlled Mineralization of Iron Oxide Colloids in a Sponge-like Gel Matrix

A magnetic mineral–polymer composite consisting of an elastic polystyrene–polyacrylate copolymer gel (see Figure) infiltrated with a magnetic iron oxide nanocolloid is reported to have been prepared by a room-temperature synthesis. This is an example of a biomimetic approach to synthetic analogues of mineral–polymer composites produced by natural organisms.