Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) are a class of post-graphene two-dimensional nanomaterials that have great potential in biological systems. Of particular interest is molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) because of its widespread commercial availability, photoluminescence in monolayer form, and superlubricity. These properties can be harnessed in a variety of biomedical applications, including novel drug delivery and photothermal ablation schemes using molybdenum disulfide as a vehicle. However, its potential in this area has not yet been realized partly due to the limitations of available synthesis and solution processing methods. Here we demonstrate that bulk molybdenum disulfidecan be finely exfoliated and dispersed in Pluronics and Tetronics at high concentrations. Pluronics and Tetronics are a class of biocompatible non-ionic block co-polymers that can be used as soluble surfactants in aqueous solution. We find that the molecular weight of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains of the Pluronics and Tetronics greatly affects the dispersion efficiency, with the most efficient polymers sharing similar molecular weights. The dispersion of molybdenum disulfide in Pluronics and Tetronics results in concentrations up to 0.1 mg/mL and optical absorbance values above 4 OD cm-1 in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the spectrum. Moreover, this dispersion technique maintains the semiconducting 2H crystal structure of molybdenum disulfide. This study illuminates a new, scalable dispersion route for high-concentration molybdenum disulfide solutions using biocompatible block copolymers, thereby paving the way for future use in biomedical therapeutic applications.

Aqueous, high concentration dispersions of molybdenum disulfide in biocompatible block copolymers

248th National Meeting (2014)

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