Competitive Adsorption of Particles and Surfactants at Liquid–Liquid Interfaces and Its Applications

Abstract

This research explores a novel approach to achieve spontaneous demulsification of Pickering emulsions by leveraging the exchange reaction between particles adsorbed on emulsion droplets and surfactants. Surfactant-adsorbed films typically create two-dimensional liquid-like film (expanded film) with low surface coverage, which is unable to fully exclude adsorbed particles from the emulsion surface. Therefore, to realize spontaneous demulsification of a Pickering emulsion, the surface phase transition to a two-dimensional solid-like film (condensed film) of surfactants on the droplet surface was utilized. This phase transition successfully realized spontaneous demulsification of silica-stabilized Pickering emulsions upon cooling.