Nanoparticle adsorption and stabilisation of surfactant-free emulsions

The formation of particle-stabilised emulsions by adding partially hydrophobised silica particles to surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsions (average drop diameter ∼700 nm) stabilised by hydroxide ions adsorbed at the oil–water interface has been investigated. Nanoparticles (average particle diameter 18 nm) adsorbed onto the drops under alkaline conditions to produce particle-stabilised emulsions with the same drop size distribution as the surfactant-free emulsions. Unlike the surfactant-free emulsions, the particle-stabilised emulsions were stable even in acidic conditions. Strongly flocculated nanoparticles (average particle diameter 150 nm) adsorbed onto the drop surfaces under acidic conditions where the emulsions were destabilised, forming coarser particle-stabilised emulsions with micron-sized drops.

Graphical abstractThe surfactant-free emulsions were unstable under acidic conditions and the average drop size increased with time. The particle-stabilised emulsions, in contrast, were stable even in acidic conditions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide