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Novel nanoparticle surfactant compositions Self-regulated, in situ generation of nanoparticle surfactant assemblies at the liquid-liquid interface
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Technology Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a method to arbitrarily control the shape of a liquid domain cladded with a protective coating within another liquid. The method enables the design of liquid-liquid systems for the long-term storage of solutions in a support medium or alternatively in a reactive environment. It also enables the generation of two-phased systems with an arbitrary, yet controlled morphology, or with with significantly amplified interfacial area. The method involves (1) the use of surface functionalized nanoparticles dispersed in one phase and end-functionalized polymers in a second phase to form nanoparticle surfactants through ligand interactions, and (2) the application followed by release of an external field to change and control the shape of liquid drops stabilized by the nanoparticle surfactants.