A microgel-Pickering emulsion route to colloidal molecules with temperature-tunable interaction sites

Abstract

A novel microgel-Pickering emulsion route has been developed for the preparation of colloidal molecules with well-defined, temperature-responsive interaction sites.

The fuzzy sphere morphology is responsible for the increase in light scattering during the shrinkage of thermoresponsive microgels

“…Here, attractive forces dominate and the microgels lose their soft repulsive character. 47 The formation of aggregates is accompanied by a steep increase in turbidity similar to the behavior of individual polymer chains discussed before. 2) With given high enough electrostatic stabilization, i.e.…”

Soft Colloidal Particles at Fluid Interfaces

“…This is the result of the competition between the internal elasticity of the polymeric network and the interfacial tension, which favors the anisotropic deformation of microgels adsorbed at the fluid interface [ 9 , 22 , 28 , 30 , 31 ], leading to an energetic landscape characterized by high values of the adsorption energy and strong inter-particle capillary interactions [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. However, in addition to this, the region of the microgel immersed in the aqueous phase remains solvated and swollen at temperatures below the characteristic VPT, adopting the so-called “fried-egg” conformation [ 38 , 39 ]. A sketch of the conceivable conformational change of microgels upon their adsorption to a fluid interface is shown in Figure 1 a.…”

Advanced Switchable Molecules and Materials for Oil Recovery and Oily Waste Cleanup

“…developed an in situ routine to assemble PNIPAm‐based microgels into colloidal molecules. [ 86 ] The thermo‐responsiveness introduced by PNIPAm sites permits facile control of the interaction between assembled colloidal molecules from soft repulsive to short‐range attractive. Besides, Tatry et al.…”

“…[85] In addition, Månsson et al developed an in situ routine to assemble PNIPAm-based microgels into colloidal molecules. [86] The thermo-responsiveness introduced by PNI-PAm sites permits facile control of the interaction between assembled colloidal molecules from soft repulsive to short-range attractive. Besides, Tatry et al also investigated phenylboronicmodified microgels that could stabilize O/W emulsions in the presence of saccharide, i.e., sugar-responsive microgels.…”