A simple method to achieve dispersion of nanoparticles (NPs) within polymer matrices by solution-state photografting of benzophenone (BP)-containing random copolymers is presented. A benzyl ether ligand that stabilizes NPs in solution while possessing selectivity toward hydrogen abstraction and subsequent coupling with BP was designed. This method for introducing grafts by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure affords control over the dispersion state in the resulting polymer films, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. The evolution of the hydrodynamic sizes of particles as a function of UV dose suggests that the polymers "wrap" particles by forming multiple attachment points per chain because of the relatively rapid kinetics for the formation of subsequent attachments following the first grafting event for a given chain. In addition, the presence of unreacted BP groups allows for photolithographic patterning of well-dispersed nanocomposite films. (C) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.