Surface modification of metal oxides by polar molecules in a non-polar, polarizable solvent system

Abstract

Oxide and metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles are widely used in various applications. A simple yet general approach for modifying MO surfaces using polar compounds in a non-polar but polarizable solvent is presented. Molecular adsorption onto the MO surface is based on dipole–dipole interactions while solvation relies on induced-dipole–dipole interactions.