Abstract Thermally stable core–shell gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with highly grafted polymer shells were synthesized by combining reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization and click chemistry of copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). First, alkyne-terminated poly (4-benzylchloride-b-styrene)(alkyne-PSCl-b-PS) was prepared from the alkyne-terminated RAFT agent. Then, an alkyne-PSCl-b-PS chain was ...