Color Switching in Gold—Polysiloxane Elastomeric Nanocomposites

Composites of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and gold nanoparticles (see figure) with an adsorbed monolayer of 1–alkanethiols afford a versatile reversible color system through treatment with solvents that swell the polymer. Even dichroism can be created, which can be converted again to optically isotropic states. Upon heat treatment irreversible thermochromic effects emerge.