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Related Concept Videos

The Colloidal State01:29

The 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...
Colloidal precipitates01:09

Colloidal 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...
Colloids03:22

Colloids

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...
Coagulation01:06

Coagulation

Colloidal solids are solid particles suspended in solution. They are usually negatively charged, attracting a compact primary layer of positively charged ions, which attract more counterions to form an electrical double layer. Electrostatic repulsion between the charged double layers prevents the particles from colliding, stabilizing the colloids. These solids are often undesirable because they can contain toxins that are difficult to remove. Coagulation is a technique that helps aggregate and...
Ion Exchange01:17

Ion Exchange

Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or basic...
Colloids and Suspensions01:17

Colloids and Suspensions

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 visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...

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Cellular Affinity of Particle-Stabilized Emulsion to Boost Antigen Internalization
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Formation of pickering emulsions using ion-specific responsive colloids.

Khooi Y Tan1, Julien E Gautrot, Wilhelm T S Huck

  • 1Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|September 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Responsive polymer-grafted nanoparticles form stable Pickering emulsions. Perchlorate ions trigger particle aggregation by collapsing polymer brushes and shielding electrostatic repulsion, enabling emulsion formation.

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Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Colloidal Science
  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Controlling colloidal systems is crucial for applications like Pickering emulsions, drug delivery, and fluid rheology.
  • Polymer-brush-grafted nanoparticles offer tunable surface properties for advanced material design.
  • Ion-responsive polymers can switch surface hydrophilicity, enabling dynamic control over colloidal behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a responsive colloidal system using polymer-brush-grafted silica nanoparticles.
  • To demonstrate the generation of stable oil-in-water Pickering emulsions using this system.
  • To investigate the mechanism of ion-induced particle aggregation and its effect on emulsion formation.

Main Methods:

  • Surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to graft cationic poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)-ethyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride) (PMETAC) brushes onto silica nanoparticles.
  • Characterization using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta-potential measurements.
  • Investigation of particle aggregation and Pickering emulsion formation in response to perchlorate ions (ClO(4)(-)).

Main Results:

  • Successful grafting of PMETAC brushes onto silica nanoparticles was confirmed by multiple characterization techniques.
  • The colloidal dispersion exhibited ion-specific responsiveness to perchlorate ions, leading to particle aggregation.
  • Stable oil-in-water Pickering emulsions were generated, with aggregation onset dependent on polymer chain length.
  • Aggregation and emulsion formation were attributed to both polymer brush collapse and shielding of electrostatic repulsion.

Conclusions:

  • Polymer-brush-grafted silica nanoparticles provide a versatile platform for creating responsive colloidal systems.
  • Perchlorate ion-induced aggregation of PMETAC-grafted nanoparticles enables the formation of stable Pickering emulsions.
  • The findings highlight the interplay between polymer conformation and electrostatic interactions in controlling colloidal assembly.