Quantitative morphological characterization of bicontinuous Pickering emulsions via interfacial curvatures12. Issue 18 (1st April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reeves, Matthew; Stratford, Kevin; Thijssen, Job H. J.
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 12:Issue 18(2016)
• Page Start: 4082
• Page End: 4092
• Publication Date: 2016-04-01
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/c5sm03102h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Bicontinuous Pickering emulsions (bijels) are a physically interesting class of soft materials with many potential applications including catalysis, microfluidics and tissue engineering. Abstract : Bicontinuous Pickering emulsions (bijels) are a physically interesting class of soft materials with many potential applications including catalysis, microfluidics and tissue engineering. They are created by arresting the spinodal decomposition of a partially-miscible liquid with a (jammed) layer of interfacial colloids. Porosity L (average interfacial separation) of the bijel is controlled by varying the radius ( r ) and volume fraction ( ϕ ) of the colloids ( L ∝ r / ϕ ). However, to optimize the bijel structure with respect to other parameters, e.g. quench rate, characterizing by L alone is insufficient. Hence, we have used confocal microscopy and X-ray CT to characterize a range of bijels in terms of local and area-averaged interfacial curvatures; we further demonstrate that bijels are bicontinuous using an image-analysis technique known as 'region growing'. In addition, the curvatures of bijels have been monitored as a function of time, which has revealed an intriguing evolution up to 60 minutes after bijel formation, contrary to previous understanding.