A Cast Net Thrown onto an Interface: Wrapping 3D Objects with an Interfacially Jammed Amphiphilic Sheet. Issue 7 (28th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cui, Mengmeng; Gao, Qiang; Bowland, Christopher C.; Burgeson, Eric M.; Hong, Kunlun; Yue, Pengtao; Naskar, Amit K.
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials interfaces. Volume 7:Issue 7(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-01-28
• Subjects: interfacial instability -- interfacial jamming -- lignin surfactant -- nonequilibrium morphologies -- wrapping; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/admi.201901751
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2196-7350

Abstract

Abstract: Wrapping a 3D object with a 2D sheet is not uncommon, but the wrapping behavior becomes complex and interesting when the sheet is bestowed with strong interfacial activities. Amphiphilic lignin macromolecules, isolated from biomass, form a scalable thin surfactant sheet at an oil/water interface through the interfacial jamming process. The process marks three distinct stages of interfacial behavior: a) diffusive assembly, b) viscous assembly with retarded mobility, and c) flexible yet irreversibly jammed rigid sheets. The surfactant sheet wraps, traps, and promptly stabilizes both oil and water droplets in nonequilibrium morphologies upon environmental stimulus. Beyond preserving exotic morphologies, the highly interfacially active surfactant sheet also participates in morphology evolution by creating a vanishing interfacial tension and driving interfacial instability around the wrapped content, leading to novel morphologies as well as many potential applications. Abstract : A large‐area surfactant nanosheet and its unique behavior in jamming, wrapping, and shaping new structures is reported. Due to its significant interfacial activity, the surfactant molecules create novel nonequilibrium morphologies such as sealed porous microparticles that are hierarchically covered by surfactant membranes.