Merck, 674974-5G, 6-Mercaptohexanoic acid

General description
6-Mercaptohexanoic acid (MHA) forms a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) that is used to cap a variety of materials like gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and indium phosphide quantum dots (InPQDs). It is majorly used in immobilizing the surface molecules, which enhance the physio-chemical and electrical properties.
Application
MHA can be used in the surface modification of InP quantum nanowires for their potential uage in fluorescent chemical sensors that monitor cyanide ions. MHA may also be covalently bonded with liposomes that can form a SAM on the surface of gold for use as an insect odorant receptor in biosensor based applications.
Used to prepare thiol-functionalized 1.5 nm gold nanoparticles via a ligand exchange process with triphenylphosphine-stabilized nanoparticles. This compound is used in self-assembly to produce hydrophilic SAMs. The resulting monolayers which are terminated with carboxylic acids can be further functionalized with various amines and alcohols to introduce more complex end groups. Can also be used to control the rate of aggregation of gold colloidal nanoparticles using pH.