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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Particle Templated Emulsification enables Microfluidic-Free Droplet Assays
Published on: March 9, 2021
Effects of solid particle content on properties of o/w Pickering emulsions
Justyna Frelichowska1, Marie-Alexandrine Bolzinger, Yves Chevalier
1Université de Lyon, UMR CNRS 5007, Laboratoire d'Automatique et de Génie des Procédés, Université de Lyon 1, 43 bd 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
Abstract:
The control of droplet size and stability of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized by hydrophobized fumed silica was investigated. Three regimes were observed according to the silica content: instability at low silica content, stable emulsions with droplet size controlled by the silica content, and emulsions of constant size set by the emulsification process at high silica concentrations. The oil-to-silica ratio was the relevant parameter of the size control in the medium concentration regime. Centrifugation experiments and particle size distribution measurements gave evidence of the presence of excess silica present as dispersion in the aqueous phase in the high silica content regime. Adsorption of silica to the droplet surface did not follow adsorption equilibrium; strong adsorption prevailed. Lastly, aggregation of silica particles appeared a crucial parameter. Oil adsorption and capillary condensation of oil within the silica aggregates provided a supplementary mechanism of silica aggregation that contributed to the stability of emulsions.
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