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Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays

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Published on: March 9, 2021

Morphological transition and emulsification failure in globular microemulsions.

N Shimokawa¹, S Komura

¹Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan. shimokawa@chem.scphys.kyoto-u.ac.jp

The Journal of Chemical Physics

|September 11, 2009

Summary

This study explores microemulsion condensation, detailing how surfactant properties influence droplet phases and emulsification failure. It maps phase transitions, revealing conditions for spherical-to-cylindrical shifts and oil phase separation.

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Area of Science:

Colloid and Surface Science
Materials Science
Physical Chemistry

Background:

Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable mixtures of oil, water, and surfactant.
Condensation transitions in microemulsions can lead to emulsification failure, forming a macroscopic oil phase.
Understanding these transitions is crucial for controlling microemulsion behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the phase transition lines between spherical and cylindrical droplet phases in oil-in-water microemulsions.
To map the phase boundary lines for emulsification failure.
To investigate the influence of surfactant monolayer properties on microemulsion phase behavior.

Main Methods:

Free energy approach to model microemulsion phase transitions.
Calculation of phase diagrams by varying surfactant monolayer properties (saddle-splay modulus, spontaneous curvature).
Analysis of droplet phase transitions and emulsification failure boundaries.

Main Results:

For negative saddle-splay modulus, spherical droplets coexist with an excess oil phase, potentially showing re-entrant transitions (sphere-cylinder-sphere).
For positive saddle-splay modulus, a direct transition from cylindrical droplets to phase separation occurs.
The sphere-to-cylinder transition line approaches the emulsification failure boundary with increasing saddle-splay modulus.

Conclusions:

Surfactant properties, specifically saddle-splay modulus and spontaneous curvature, dictate microemulsion phase behavior and emulsification failure.
The study provides a theoretical framework for predicting and controlling microemulsion phase transitions.
Re-entrant transitions are possible under specific surfactant conditions, highlighting complex phase dynamics.