Synthesis of Polymer Janus Particles with Tunable Wettability Profiles as Potent Solid Surfactants to Promote Gas Delivery in Aqueous Reaction Media

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c07259
• Publication Date: 2021-06-29T18:57:26Z
• Authors: Bradley D. Frank; Milena Perovic; Saveh Djalali; Markus Antonietti; Martin Oschatz; Lukas Zeininger
• Keywords: Janus Particles; Particle (ecology)

Janus particles exhibit a strong tendency to directionally assemble and segregate interfaces thus offer advantages as colloidal analogues of molecular surfactants improve the stability multiphasic mixtures. Investigation application unique adsorption properties require synthetic procedures that enable careful design reliable control over particles' asymmetric chemistry wettability profiles with high morphological uniformity across sample. Herein, we report on novel one-step approach for generation amphiphilic polymer highly uniform tunable contrasts, which is based using reconfigurable bi-phasic emulsions versatile particle scaffolds. Two phase-separated acrylate oils were used constituent droplet phases transformed into their solidified replicas via UV-induced radical polymerization. Using precursors offers advantage internal geometry can be fine-tuned by changing force balance surface tensions acting at individual or volume ratio phases. In addition, preassembled functional locked in position upon polymerization, enables both access toward postfunctionalization reaction schemes adjustable profiles. Depending morphology wettability, interfacial adjusted, allows us stabilize either air bubbles-in-water water droplets-in-air (liquid marbles). Motivated activity particularly longevity resulting particle-stabilized air-in-water bubbles, explored ability promote delivery oxygen inside liquid-phase medium, namely, heterogeneous Au-NP-mediated catalytic oxidation d-glucose. We observed 2.2-fold increase rate attributed local concentration around catalysts, showcasing new strategy overcome limited solubility gases aqueous media.