Highly Stimuli-Responsive Au Nanorods/Poly(N‑isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) Composite Hydrogel for Smart Switch

To achieve both fast response and structural integrity during the repeating volume changes are the most significant challenges for thermoresponsive hydrogels. In this work, AuNRs/PNIPAM composite hydrogel with fast thermal/optical response and structural integrity is facilely prepared by electrospinning and following a curing treatment. By combining the photothermal property of AuNRs and thermal-responsive effect of PNIPAM, the composite hydrogel shows fast thermal/photoresponse, high heating rate, and high structural integrity with fierce size change. When laser irradiation begins, the temperature of the film increases from room temperature to 34.5 °C in 1 s and will further increase even to 60 °C in 5 s. Both the porous structure of the hydrogel and the assemble effect of AuNRs within the PNIPAM fibers facilitate the fast responsibility. Furthermore, to take advantage of this fibrous hydrogel adequately, one novel kind of thermal/photocontrolled switch based on the composite hydrogel is prepared, which exhibits fast responsivity and high stability even under acidic or basic conditions.