Self-Regulated Nanoparticle Assembly at Liquid/Liquid Interfaces: A Route to Adaptive Structuring of Liquids

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01685
• Publication Date: 2017-07-18T15:28:16Z
• Authors: Caili Huang; Mengmeng Cui; Zhiwei Sun; Feng Liu; Brett A. Helms; Thomas P. Russell
• Keywords: Structuring; Component (thermodynamics)

The controlled structuring of liquids into arbitrary shapes can be achieved in biphasic liquid media using the interfacial assemblies nanoparticle surfactants (NP-surfactants), that consist a polar "head group" bound to one or more hydrophobic polymer "tails". nonequilibrium suspended phase rendered permanent by jamming NP-surfactants formed and assembled at interface between as system attempts minimize area liquids. While critical process, little is known dynamic mechanical properties NP-surfactant monolayer it dictated characteristics component, including NP size concentration molecular weight polymers NPs. Here we provide first comprehensive understanding character two-dimensional liquid/liquid interfaces. Our results indicate dynamics NP-polymer interactions are self-regulated across multiple time scales associated with specific mesoscale self-similar cross-complementary components. Furthermore, tunable over broad range deterministic on basis those component inputs. This control key tailoring functional attributes reconfigurable structured suit applications.