Recent advances in scalable synthesis and performance of Janus polymer/inorganic nanocomposites

Abstract Janus nanomaterials composed of two compartments with dissimilar compositions and/or functionalities have garnered considerable interest over the past several decades owing to their diverse nanostructures and intriguing properties arising from the two constituents and microstructures. Janus polymer/inorganic nanocomposites represent a class of unique materials that afford synergistic features of polymers and inorganic substance, rendering appealing properties and promising applications. Various synthetic routes have been developed to craft a host of Janus materials with tunable composition, morphology and microstructures. This review focuses on the recent advances in rational design, precision synthesis, and performance of a set of Janus polymer/inorganic nanocomposites. Four main synthetic strategies are discussed, including Pickering emulsion interfacial synthesis, conventional emulsion interfacial synthesis, confined self-assembly of block copolymers, and seeded swelling emulsion polymerization. The detailed synthetic methods and strictly Janus characteristics are highlighted. This review aims to attract broad interests in the polymer and nanomaterial communities by directing the research focus on judicious design and synthesis as well as large-scale production of Janus polymer/inorganic nanocomposites, thereby imparting the further exploration of their extraordinary attributes and practical applications.