Fig. 1: Existence of a dispersible limit for specific nanoparticles.
From: Breaking the nanoparticle’s dispersible limit via rotatable surface ligands
a Different strategies used to stabilize nanoparticles in different solvents. (I) Electrostatically stabilized nanoparticles in polar solvents. (II) Sterically stabilized nanoparticles in nonpolar solvents. (III) Amphiphilic ligands stabilized nanoparticles. (IV) Mixed ligands stabilized nanoparticles. b The appropriate dispersible limit of different stabilizing strategies shown in (a) and breaking the dispersible limit of common stabilizing strategies by tethering rotatable surface ligands onto nanoparticles (V). The rotatable surface ligands allow the nanoparticles to be electrostatically stabilized in polar solvents, while sterically stabilized in nonpolar solvents. c Reversible orientation change of the rotatable ligands to adapt to surrounding liquids. d The high antibacterial performance of the smart Ag nanoparticles arises from the fact that they do not aggregate and they can easily pass through the bacterial membrane.
