Direct observation of nanoparticle-surfactant assembly and jamming at the water-oil interface

Scientific Achievement

Nanoparticles bind to the oil-water interface forming a dense film. After an initial phase of diffusion controlled attachment the film jams and further attachment requires coordinated rearrangement of the nanoparticles at the interface.

Direct observation of nanoparticle adsorption to the water-oil interface captures early attachment and jamming.

Significance and Impact

Understanding how nanoparticles assemble and jam to stabilize liquid-liquid interfaces has many industrial applications and aides in the design of reconfigurable liquid in liquid fluidic systems.

Research Details

Used in situ AFM and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy to directly observe nanoparticle adsorption events and the spatial distribution and relaxation of nanoparticles at the interface.
Nanoparticles follow Fickian diffusive kinetics when adsorbing to a bare water-oil interface.
Attachment to dense films requires coordinated rearrangement of nanoparticles in the interface and slows the relaxation dynamics.

Y. Chai, J. Hasnain, K. Bahl, M. Wong, D. Li, Ph. Geissler, P.Y. Kim, Y. Jiang, P. Gu, S. Li, D. Lei, B.A. Helms, Th.P. Russell, P.D. Ashby. Sci. Adv. 6, eabb8675 (2020).

Scientific Achievement

Significance and Impact

Research Details

Y. Chai, J. Hasnain, K. Bahl, M. Wong, D. Li, Ph. Geissler, P.Y. Kim, Y. Jiang, P. Gu, S. Li, D. Lei, B.A. Helms, Th.P. Russell, P.D. Ashby. Sci. Adv. 6, eabb8675 (2020).

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