One-step covalent hydrophobic/hydrophilic functionalization of chemically exfoliated molybdenum disulfide nanosheets with RAFT derived polymers.

The covalent functionalization of chemically exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (ce-MoS) with hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) and hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) polymers, in a single-step without additives, is presented. The nature of chemical modification and the impact on the structure of ce-MoS were spectroscopically investigated. Complexation of Eu was accomplished on grafted polycarboxylate chains on MoS.