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Organic-inorganic patchy particles as a versatile platform for fluid-in-fluid dispersion stabilisation
E Blanco1, S K Smoukov, O D Velev
1Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA. odvelev@ncsu.edu.
Faraday Discussions
|July 22, 2016
Summary
We developed novel organic-inorganic patchy particles for stabilizing Pickering foams and emulsions. These particles, with tunable protein coverage, offer a versatile platform for advanced material assembly.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Pickering foams and emulsions are stabilized by particles at interfaces.
- Controlling particle-interface interactions is key to dispersion stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a new class of organic-inorganic patchy particles for Pickering stabilization.
- To investigate the effect of protein coverage on particle behavior and dispersion stability.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing silica particles decorated with zein protein domains via solvent-based heterogeneous precipitation.
- Tuning pH-dependent particle-interface interactions by varying protein coverage.
- Evaluating foam and emulsion stabilization properties.
Main Results:
- Optimal foam stabilization achieved with specific protein coverage, correlating with a low effective surface potential.
- Surface coverage influences foam stability by controlling particle adsorption energy.
- Increased protein content in emulsions leads to droplet bridging and close-packing due to protein gelation.
Conclusions:
- Protein-based organic-inorganic patchy particles offer a versatile platform for Pickering stabilization.
- Tunable surface properties enable control over foam and emulsion characteristics.
- These particles serve as precursors for advanced functional materials.
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