Factors that affect the stability, type and morphology of Pickering emulsion stabilized by silver nanoparticles/graphene oxide nanocomposites

• AgNPs/GO nanocomposites were successfully fabricated by a two-step method without using any additional reductants and the prepared nanocomposites were used to prepare stable Pickering emulsions.
• The effects of the oil/water ratio, the AgNPs/GO concentration, and the pH on the stability, type and morphology of the emulsions were studied.
• PS–AgNPs/GO composites were prepared by Pickering emulsion polymerization and they showed good catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

Silver nanoparticles/graphene oxide (AgNPs/GO) nanocomposites were easily fabricated by a green method without using any additional reductant and the prepared nanocomposites were then used to stabilize Pickering emulsions. The properties of the emulsions stabilized by the AgNPs/GO prepared with different AgNO3/GO mass ratios were investigated and the effects of the oil/water ratio, the AgNPs/GO concentration, and the pH on the stability, type and morphology of the emulsions were studied. In addition, the effects of adding different types and concentrations of electrolytes on the emulsion stability were studied. Adding electrolytes to the systems improved the stability of the Pickering emulsions due to the reduction in the particle zeta potentials. Polystyrene–AgNPs/GO composites were also prepared by Pickering emulsion polymerization and their catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol was investigated.

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