Highly concentrated MoS2 nanosheets in water achieved by thioglycolic acid as stabilizer and used as biomarkers

Synthesis of water soluble MoS₂ quantum dots from the monolayer nanosheets of MoS₂, using thioglycolic acid (TGA) was reported in this study. TGA molecules not only exfoliated the bulk of MoS₂, but also modified the hydrophobic surface of MoS₂ with hydrophilic carboxylic acid groups.