Dual-Responsive Hybrid Microgels Enabling Phase Inversion in Pickering Emulsions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Pickering emulsions offer high stability and broad applications.
• Controlling emulsion type and achieving reversible phase inversion with fixed formulations is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop stimuli-responsive hybrid microgels for Pickering emulsion stabilization.
• To achieve precise and reversible control over emulsion phase inversion.

Main Methods:

• A sol-gel strategy was used to create silica shells on responsive microgels (H-SiO2@P(NIPAM-co-MAA)).
• The hybrid microgels were employed as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions.

Main Results:

• The hybrid microgels exhibited retained pH and temperature responsiveness.
• Stable Pickering emulsions were formed and maintained for one week.
• In situ reversible phase inversion of the emulsions was achieved using external stimuli.

Conclusions:

• The sol-gel approach successfully fabricated dual-responsive hybrid microgels.
• These microgels enable controlled formation and stimuli-responsive phase inversion of Pickering emulsions.