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Controlling Surfactant Adsorption on Highly Charged Nanoparticles to Stabilize Bijels
Stephen Boakye-Ansah1, Mohd Azeem Khan2, Martin F Haase1,2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States.
Summary
Strongly charged silica nanoparticles can now stabilize bicontinuous particle-stabilized emulsions (bijels). Controlling surfactant adsorption is key for particle dispersibility and successful bijel fabrication, expanding material possibilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Bicontinuous particle-stabilized emulsions (bijels) are oil/water networks with diverse applications.
- Current methods using solvent transfer induced phase separation (STrIPS) are limited to low surface charge density nanoparticles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the stabilization of STrIPS bijels using strongly charged silica nanoparticles.
- To elucidate the critical factors for successful bijel formation with highly charged particles.
Main Methods:
- Systematic investigation using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, acid/base titrations, turbidimetry, surface tension analysis, and confocal microscopy.
- Controlled modification of nanoparticle surface properties through surfactant adsorption.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated bijels using strongly charged silica nanoparticles.
- Identified moderation of oppositely charged surfactant adsorption as crucial for particle dispersibility and bijel stabilization.
- Demonstrated the importance of particle charge density in the STrIPS bijel formation process.
Conclusions:
- Enables the fabrication of STrIPS bijels with strongly charged nanoparticles, broadening their applicability.
- Provides a general framework for bijel fabrication using various inorganic nanoparticles with tunable charge densities.
- Advances the understanding of interfacial jamming mechanisms in nanoparticle-stabilized emulsions.
