Fig. 4. The ‘wrapping’ and ‘coating’ of Ni@SiNPs. (a) Bidentate binding of imidazole decorated polymers to Ni@SiNPs. (b) Incubation of Ni@SiNPs with P1-Imi15 results in the formation of a polymeric coating which (c) is easily displaced with imidazole. (d) Incubation of Ni@SiNPs with P1-Imi15-SCPN results in the adsorption of SCPNs upon the particle surface which then (e) reorganise their connectivity due to the concentration-triggered structural metamorphosis to wrap the nanoparticle in a polymer film which (f) cannot be displaced. (g) Crosslinker can be added to the ‘coated’ nanoparticles as an alternative route to the ‘wrapped’ nanoparticles.
