Edge-modified amphiphilic Laponite nano-discs for stabilizing Pickering emulsions

• Amphiphilic Laponites are prepared by grafting hydrophobic chains.
• Amphiphilic Laponites can greatly decrease the surface tension.
• Amphiphilic Laponites uniquely combine Pickering effects with amphiphilic properties.
• Homogeneous polystyrene nanoparticles with size around 150 nm were prepared.

We investigated the effect of amphiphilic Laponite nano-discs, which were edge-modified by hydrophobic chains, on the properties of Pickering emulsions and Pickering emulsions polymerization. Comparing to unmodified Laponites, these amphiphilic nano-discs can greatly reduce the surface tension, resulting in very stable Pickering emulsions. These particles uniquely combine the Pickering effect with amphiphilic properties similar to the surfactant. Taking advantage of these amphiphilic Pickering emulsifiers, miniemulsion polymerization of styrene was performed. Homogeneous polystyrene nanoparticles with size around 150 nm could thus be prepared.

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