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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device

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Published on: December 25, 2015

Multifunctional pH-Responsive Gemini Surfactant.

Bin Hu¹, Jiani Liu¹, Chengwen Deng¹

¹School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.

Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

|July 11, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A novel pH-responsive surfactant dynamically switches between gemini and single-chain forms, enabling multifunctional applications like oil-water separation, 3D printing, and aerogel formation for advanced materials.

Keywords:

emulsion gels gemini surfactants oil/water separation pH‐responsive structured liquid

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Supramolecular Chemistry
Surface Chemistry

Background:

Stimuli-responsive surfactants are key for applications like oil recovery and microreactors due to dynamic self-assembly.
Current applications are limited to single functions, hindering integration into advanced manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a pH-responsive gemini surfactant with adaptive, multifunctional capabilities.
To explore its use in oil/water separation, liquid structures, 3D printing, and aerogel formation.

Main Methods:

Synthesized a pH-responsive gemini surfactant (GTL) that transitions to a single-chain form (TL+) at different pH levels.
Investigated GTL's emulsification for oil/water separation and TL+/sulfated cellulose nanocrystal (CNC-OSO3-) co-assembly for liquid structures.
Evaluated TL+/CNC-OSO3- emulsions for 3D printing and aerogel fabrication.
Employed density functional theory (DFT) to understand interfacial adsorption and co-assembly mechanisms.

Main Results:

GTL demonstrated efficient, reusable oil/water separation triggered by CO2/Ar.
TL+/CNC-OSO3- co-assembly formed reconfigurable all-liquid structures and self-supporting emulsions.
These emulsions served as 3D-printable inks and precursors for thermal insulative aerogels.
DFT revealed pH-dependent adsorption and non-covalent interactions driving the co-assembly.

Conclusions:

The pH-responsive surfactant overcomes monofunctional limitations, enabling adaptive, multifunctional material design.
This work establishes a new paradigm for stimuli-responsive surfactants in advanced manufacturing.
The developed material shows promise for diverse applications including smart liquid devices and thermal insulation.