Reconfigurable Pickering Emulsions with Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Pickering emulsions (PEs) are stabilized by particle surfactants, finding use in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are emerging as stabilizers for dynamic emulsions.
• Functionalization of CNTs is key to controlling emulsion properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate complex biphasic emulsions using functionalized CNTs.
• To explore the role of Meisenheimer complex formation in emulsion stabilization.
• To investigate the use of fluorofluorescent perylene bisimide (F-PBI) for enhanced interfacial assembly.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of complex emulsions using functionalized CNTs and Meisenheimer complex formation.
• Utilizing the reversible nature of Meisenheimer complexes for interfacial functionalization.
• Employing fluorofluorescent perylene bisimide (F-PBI) to enhance CNT assembly at the oil-water interface.
• Investigating the effect of CNT concentration and additives on emulsion morphology.
• Exploring reversible morphology changes with molecular surfactants.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated complex biphasic emulsions (hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon) using functionalized CNTs.
• Demonstrated reversible functionalization at the droplet-water interface via Meisenheimer complexes.
• Showcased enhanced CNT assembly on the fluorocarbon-water interface using F-PBI.
• Achieved predictable emulsion morphologies by tuning CNT concentration and additives.
• Confirmed reversible morphology reconfiguration upon addition of molecular surfactants.

Conclusions:

• Functionalized CNTs, through Meisenheimer complex formation, offer significant utility in creating dynamic complex emulsions.
• The reversible nature of the interfacial functionalization provides a pathway for tunable emulsion properties.
• This approach holds promise for advanced applications in areas requiring dynamic interfacial stabilization.