Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:47
Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
Published on: February 19, 2016
Internally structured pickering emulsions stabilized by clay mineral particles.
Samuel Guillot1, Faïza Bergaya, Christine de Azevedo
1Centre de Recherche sur la Matière Divisée, UMR 6619, Université d'Orléans-CNRS, 1b Rue de la Férollerie, F-45071 Orléans Cedex 2, France.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|February 27, 2009
Summary
This study details novel emulsion particles stabilized by clay platelets, revealing their size is independent of clay content. These soft particles exhibit complex internal structures and unique morphologies influenced by clay mineral interactions.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Emulsion particles are crucial in various applications, requiring robust stabilization mechanisms.
- Nanostructured lipid mesophases offer unique properties for dispersed systems.
- Clay minerals, like montmorillonite and Laponite, are explored for their potential as stabilizers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe emulsion particles with nanostructured lipid mesophases stabilized by clay platelets.
- To investigate the influence of clay mineral content and internal composition on particle characteristics.
- To visualize and characterize the internal structure and morphology of these novel soft particles.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of emulsion particles incorporating nanostructured lipid mesophases.
- Stabilization using montmorillonite and/or Laponite clay platelets.
- Characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for direct visualization.
Main Results:
- Emulsion particle size distributions were independent of clay mineral content and internal composition.
- Effective stabilization was achieved even with montmorillonite, despite its large size relative to droplets.
- TEM revealed complex internal mesophases, including bent-back channels, and particle morphologies influenced by clay-induced flatness.
Conclusions:
- Clay platelets effectively stabilize emulsion particles containing nanostructured lipid mesophases.
- Particle size and internal structure are robust to variations in clay content and initial composition.
- The interaction between clay platelets and droplets dictates particle morphology, particularly at the periphery.
Related Concept Videos
01:29The Colloidal State
The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...
01:09Colloidal precipitates
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
03:22Colloids
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
01:30Micelles
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
03:00Solubility
Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...