Optothermally Programmable Liquids with Spatiotemporal Precision and Functional Complexity (Adv. Mater. 38/2022)

Chen, Xixi; Wu, Tian-Li; Huang, Danmin; Zhou, Jiajia; Zhou, Fengxiang; Tu, Mei; Zhang, Yao; Li, Baojun; Li, Yuchao; Jiang, Lingxiang

doi:10.1002/adma.202270269

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“…Although plasmonic nanoparticles may function as light‐to‐heat converters under specific wavelengths, the fast and efficient light‐mediated response of plasmonic nanoparticle‐stabilized Pickering emulsions remains largely unexplored. [ 45,46 ] In addition, it is still challenging to initiate reactions or the interaction of Pickering emulsion droplets containing different reagents by droplet merging or directed inter‐droplet transportation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light‐Driven Spatiotemporal Pickering Emulsion Droplet Manipulation Enabled by Plasmonic Hybrid Microgels

Guan

Cheng

et al. 2023

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The past decades have witnessed the development of various stimuli‐responsive materials with tailored functionalities, enabling droplet manipulation through external force fields. Among different strategies, light exhibits excellent flexibility for contactless control of droplets, particularly in three‐dimensional space. Here, we present a facile synthesis of plasmonic hybrid microgels based on the electrostatic heterocoagulation between cationic microgels and anionic Au nanoparticles. The hybrid microgels are effective stabilizers of oil‐in‐water Pickering emulsions. In addition, the laser irradiation on Au nanoparticles creats a “cascade effect” to thermally responsive microgels, which triggers a change in microgel wettability, resulting in microgel desorption and emulsion destabilization. More importantly, the localized heating generated by a focused laser induces the generation of a vapor bubble inside oil droplets, leading to the formation of a novel air‐in‐oil‐in‐water (A/O/W) emulsion. These A/O/W droplets are able to mimic natural microswimmers in an aqueous environment by tracking the motion of a laser spot, thus achieving on‐demand droplet merging and chemical communication between isolated droplets. Such proposed systems are expected to extend the applications of microgel‐stabilized Pickering emulsions for substance transport, programmed release and controlled catalytic reactions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%