Functionalization of Emulsion Interfaces: Surface Chemistry Made Liquid

Abstract

Disperse systems, and emulsions in particular, are currently massively used in fields as varied as food industry, cosmetics, health care and environmentally‐friendly materials. To meet increasingly precise needs or targeted applications, these systems need to be endowed with new functionalities at their interfaces, in addition to their composition and structural properties. However, due to the fragility of drops and the low reactivity of their surface, conventional solid surface chemistry cannot be used for such a purpose. Several specific emulsion interface functionalization techniques have thus been developed for targeted systems and applications, but a general framework has yet to be drawn. In this review, we attempt to present these methods in a unified way through the prism of what we may call “liquid surface chemistry”. We propose to categorize existing methods into drop‐coating strategies, including layer‐by‐layer techniques and polymer coating, and emulsifier‐carrier approaches involving particles and/or amphiphilic molecules. They are discussed in a transversal way, highlighting the underlying physico‐chemical principles and providing a comparative analysis of their advantages, current limitations and potential for improvement. We also propose future directions and opportunities, involving for instance DNA‐based programmability or artificial intelligence, which could make liquid surface chemistry more versatile and controlled.