09 Mar 11-Phosphonoundecanoic Acid

Product of the month | March 2026

11-Phosphonoundecanoic acid (SP-3-10-003) is a versatile bifunctional molecule developed by SPECIFIC POLYMERS for advanced materials research. This compound combines phosphonic acid (–PO₃H₂) and carboxylic acid (–COOH) functionalities on the same aliphatic chain, offering a powerful molecular platform for surface engineering and nanoparticle functionalization. The phosphonic acid group provides strong and stable binding to metal oxide surfaces such as TiO₂, Al₂O₃, SiO₂ or ITO for instance, while the terminal carboxylic acid remains available for further chemical interactions with organic matrices or reactive systems. This dual functionality makes the molecule particularly attractive for improving the compatibility of inorganic particles within polymeric matrices, for example through the surface modification of TiO₂ nanoparticles to enhance dispersion and interfacial interactions in hybrid materials (Energy Fuels 2024, 38, 21, 20417–20425, DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.4c03691). It can also act as a stabilizing ligand for oxide nanoparticles, such as aluminum oxide, contributing to improved colloidal stability and control of nanoparticle aggregation (J. Mater. Sci., 2023, 58, 7287–7302, DOI: 10.1007/s10853-023-08428-0). In addition, phosphonic acids are widely used for the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on oxide surfaces including SiO₂ and ITO, enabling precise surface functionalization for electronics, coatings, or sensing applications (Langmuir, 2023, DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01278; J. Electrochem. Soc., 2023, DOI: 10.1149/2754-2726/acc4d9).