Bidentate ligand-protected Ag nanocrystals

Here we reported a new strategy based on the use of bidentate polymer ligands to exchange the long alkyl chain surfactants adsorbed on Ag nanocrystals to facilely achieve stable dispersions of Ag nanocrystals in alcohol. Amazedly, bidentate ligand-protected Ag nanocrystals showed a complete precipitation in water. We found that the tightly packing self-assembled bidentate polymer ligands were adsorbed on Ag nanocrystals, therefore leading to unusual dispersion ability. Another free functional group provided the potential reactivity for further modification.