Design of dispersant for highly concentrated one-dimensional Nb2Se9 inorganic molecular chains from bulk crystal

We determined the optimum dispersant to separate bulk Nb2Se9 material into 1D chain units. The Nb2Se9, which had a negative zeta potential (−43.3 mV), showed acidic characteristics and strongly bonded with the amine head of octadecyl amine through a charge transfer (from the amine to Se atoms) reaction. The steric hindrance of the octadecyl tail resulted in excellent dispersion of Nb2Se9 (down to nanometre-sized mono-chains).