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DOE OSTI · 2377759

A versatile approach to stabilize liquid-liquid interfaces using surfactant self-assembly

Honaryar, Houman·Amirfattahi, Saba·Nguyen, Douc·Kim, Kyungtae·Shillcock, Julian C.·Niroobakhsh, Zahra
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Abstract

Stabilizing liquid–liquid interfaces, whether between miscible or immiscible liquids, is crucial for a wide range of applications, including energy storage, microreactors, and biomimetic structures. In this study, a versatile approach for stabilizing the water-oil interface is presented using the morphological transitions that occur during the self-assembly of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants mixed with fatty acid oils. The morphological transitions underlying this approach are characterized and extensively studied through small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), rheometry, and microscopy techniques. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) as a simulation tool is adopted to investigate these morphological transitions both in the equilibrium ternary system as well as in the dynamic condition of the water-oil interface. Such a versatile strategy holds promise for enhancing applications such as liquid-in-liquid 3D printing. Moreover, it has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of fields where stabilizing liquid–liquid interfaces not only offers unprecedented opportunities for fine-tuning nanostructural morphologies but also imparts interesting practical features to the resulting liquid shapes. These features include perfusion capabilities, self-healing, and porosity, which could have significant implications for various industries.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRYinterfacial nanostructuresinterfacial rheologyliquid-liquid interfacelyotropic liquid crystalline phasessmall-angle X-ray scatteringsurfactant self-assembly

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Honaryar, Houman, Amirfattahi, Saba, Nguyen, Douc, Kim, Kyungtae, Shillcock, Julian C., Niroobakhsh, Zahra. 2024-06-14. A versatile approach to stabilize liquid-liquid interfaces using surfactant self-assembly. https://doi.org/10.2172/2377759

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