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Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Mesoporous Nanoparticles with Different Morphologies in Combination with DTAB.
Danhua Xie1, Yulong Jiang1, Kangling Li1
1Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Featured Biochemical and Chemical Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials, Ningde Normal University, Ningde, Fujian 352100, China.
ACS Omega
|August 29, 2022
Summary
The shape of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) significantly impacts Pickering emulsion stability and responsiveness. Thread-like MSNPs create larger, more stable emulsions at lower surfactant concentrations, offering tunable droplet sizes.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Pickering emulsions are stabilized by solid nanoparticles at oil-water interfaces.
- Nanoparticle morphology is a critical factor influencing emulsion properties.
- Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) offer tunable properties for emulsion stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of nanoparticle morphology (spherical, rod-like, thread-like MSNPs) on oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion characteristics.
- To evaluate the stability and stimuli-responsive behavior of Pickering emulsions stabilized by different MSNP shapes.
- To understand the relationship between MSNP morphology and emulsion performance.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of O/W Pickering emulsions using spherical, rod-like, and thread-like MSNPs with dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB).
- Investigation of emulsion stability as a function of DTAB concentration.
- Characterization of droplet size using microscopy (SEM).
- Assessment of stimuli-responsive properties by alternating pH adjustments (NaOH/HCl).
Main Results:
- Stable Pickering emulsions were formed with spherical and rod-like MSNPs above 0.2 mmol·L⁻¹ DTAB, and with thread-like MSNPs at ~0.1 mmol·L⁻¹ DTAB.
- Thread-like MSNPs produced significantly larger droplets (~700 μm), approximately 20 times larger than conventional ones.
- All emulsions showed excellent long-term stability (>6 months).
- Spherical and rod-like MSNP emulsions exhibited >60 on/off switching cycles for stability, while thread-like MSNP emulsions showed >10 cycles for droplet size switching without phase separation.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle morphology critically dictates Pickering emulsion stability, droplet size, and responsiveness.
- Thread-like MSNPs, due to high anisotropy, enable low interface curvature, leading to larger droplets and tunable size.
- This research provides insights into formulating advanced Pickering emulsions with tailored properties for diverse applications.
