Flexdispersion: Amphiphilic phosphonic acid-capped nanoparticles

Colloidal nanoparticles have unique properties and are expected to have a wide range of applications. Colloidal stability is one of the key properties for their successful application. Ligands that are organic molecules can provide colloidal stability by functionalizing the surface of the nanoparticles. We prepared nanoparticles of various sizes and materials by solvo/hydrothermal reactions and functionalized them with the phosphonic acid amphiphilic ligand designed in our previous studies. Zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), and zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (particle size 4-33 nm) were successfully functionalized using this ligand and dispersed in typical polar and less-polar solvents such as methanol and toluene. Our findings have the potential to enable good dispersion of metal oxide (sulfide) colloids in a variety of organic solvents.