Oversaturating Liquid Interfaces with Nanoparticle-Surfactants

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2024 Apr 8:e202403790. doi: 10.1002/anie.202403790. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAssemblies of nanoparticles at liquid interfaces hold promise as dynamic "active" systems when there are convenient methods to drive the system out of equilibrium via crowding. To this end, we show that oversaturated assemblies of charged nanoparticles can be realized and held in that state with an external electric field. Upon removal of the field, strong interparticle repulsive forces cause a high in-plane electrostatic pressure that is released in an explosive emulsification. We quantify the packing of the assembly as it is driven into the oversaturated state under an applied electric field. Physiochemical conditions substantially affect the intensity of the induced explosive emulsification, underscoring the crucial role of interparticle electrostatic repulsion.PMID:38589294 | DOI:10.1002/anie.202403790
Source: Angewandte Chemie - Category: Chemistry Authors: Source Type: research