Nanocontainers for Self‐Healing Coatings

This progress report covers recent achievements in the development of nanocontainers for self‐healing corrosion protection coatings. The functionality and design of Layer‐by‐Layer‐assembled, polymer, and inorganic nanocontainers are demonstrated in the coatings for protection of steel and aluminium alloys. The release of the corrosion inhibitors from nanocontainers occurs only when triggered by local pH changes or other internal or external stimuli, which prevents leakage of the corrosion inhibitor out of the coating and increases coating durability. This leads to the self‐healing ability of the coating and terminates corrosion propagation. Innovative nanocontainers of various types gain more and more attention for application in various smart systems from drug delivery though bioactive surfaces to corrosion protection and further. Incorporation of different functionalities into nanocontainer shell increases the potential of nanocontainers for multifunctional materials.