Overcoming the Insolubility of Molybdenum Disulfide Nanoparticles through a High Degree of Sidewall Functionalization Using Polymeric Chelating Ligands

Deck the walls: The principles of coordination chemistry and multidentate ligand design have been used to functionalize the surface of highly inert MoS2 nanoparticles. In this approach the tetradentate nitrilotriacetic acid ligand was coupled either to a fluorescent ligand (for detection) or to a reactive polymer, which serves as an anchor to the sulfide and oxide surfaces of inorganic fullerene/MoS2 and TiO2 nanorods, respectively (see picture).