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Structured Liquid-in-Liquid Emulsion Stabilized by Surface-Engineered Liquid Metal Droplets as "Mutant" Pickering
Jiyoon Park1, Hyunji Lee1, Eunju Na1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin 17058, Republic of Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 28, 2025
Summary
Engineered liquid metal (LM) microdroplets act as novel "mutant" Pickering emulsifiers, creating stable oil-in-water emulsions. These liquid metal emulsions offer enhanced properties and localized photothermal heating for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Liquid metals (LMs) possess unique electronic and rheological properties, driving interest in advanced technologies.
- Conventional Pickering emulsifiers utilize solid particles to stabilize emulsions; a liquid-core alternative is explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer liquid metal (LM) microdroplets as novel droplet-type surfactants for stabilizing liquid-in-liquid emulsions.
- To investigate the properties and applications of emulsions stabilized by these engineered LM droplets.
Main Methods:
- Eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) microdroplets were encapsulated with SiO2 and functionalized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).
- These engineered LM droplets were used to create oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, termed "mutant" Pickering emulsifiers.
- The emulsions' stability, viscoelasticity, photothermal properties, and cargo release capabilities were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The engineered LM droplets demonstrated high chemical stability and excellent oil-water interfacial activity.
- Stable O/W emulsions with enhanced yield stress, viscoelasticity, and sedimentation stability were produced, even at low LM concentrations.
- Localized photothermal heating and on-demand cargo release were achieved using these LM-stabilized emulsions.
Conclusions:
- Engineered liquid metal microdroplets function as effective "mutant" Pickering emulsifiers, creating stable and functional emulsions.
- These novel emulsions exhibit tunable properties, including viscoelasticity and photothermal responsiveness, with significant application potential.
- This work introduces a new class of colloidal systems with liquid cores for advanced materials and delivery systems.
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