Temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm) was synthesized both in the presence and absence of nanomaterials like allyl mercaptan decorated gold nanoparticle and allyalcohol-conjugated multiwall carbon nanotube. The influence of the nanomaterials on the structureproperty relationship of PNIPAAm was analyzed and critically compared to the pristine PNIPAAm. During the in situ polymerization, the nanosphere shape of Au nanoparticle was converted into Au nanorod shape, which was confirmed through UVvis spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymer/nanocomposites was greater than that of the pristine polymer. Thermogravimetric analysis declared that the polymer/nanocomposites exhibited higher thermal stability than the homopolymer. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012