Functional, inorganic nanoparticles are homogeneously integrated into thin polymer films to offer a wide range of properties and functions specific to inorganic particles. These nanoparticles are dispersed wither in liquid monomer or in a polymer solution and can be applied by spin, dip, or spray coating. Inverse microemulsions, consisting of nanoscale water droplets, and dispersed and stabilized by surfactant molecules in an oil phase, form the reaction medium for another method of nanoparticle synthesis. Plasma polymerization is used for rapid curing of polymer films, and a reduction of curing time of an acrylic paint from about 5 min to 1.6 sec. Nanorods based on CdSe are suitable for integration in polymer films due to their wide absorption spectrum and directed charge transport properties.