nn2c00199_si_006.avi (3.05 MB)
Direct Observation of Emulsion Morphology, Dynamics, and Demulsification
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posted on 2022-03-18, 18:09 authored by Maria
A. Vratsanos, Nathan C. GianneschiHerein,
we present the direct observation and quantification of
a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion, its destabilization, and the effect
of additives on such processes at the nanoscale. This is achieved via liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM),
wherein a small volume of emulsion is encapsulated against vacuum
in its liquid state to allow observation of its initial morphology
and its evolution over time at excellent spatial and temporal resolution.
Emulsions of this class are useful for delivering payloads of materials
insoluble in their delivery medium and are currently widely used across
food science, pharmaceuticals, and environmental applications. However,
their utility is inherently limited by their thermodynamic tendency
to demulsify, eventually leading to bulk phase separation. This occurs via several degradation mechanisms, operating at times collectively,
and which are difficult to differentiate via traditional
ensemble methods (e.g., light scattering), obscuring
mechanistic nuances. LPTEM as a characterization technique has the
potential to augment our understanding of emulsion behavior and improve
performance and formulations. In this work, we also emphasize the
importance of the included videographic Supporting Information data
in demonstrating the behavior of the studied materials.
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several degradation mechanismsbulk phase separationlptem ), whereinvia times collectivelythermodynamic tendencytemporal resolutionstudied materialssmall volumematerials insolubleliquid stateinitial morphologyinherently limitedimprove performanceg .excellent spatialeventually leadingenvironmental applicationsdirect observationdemulsification hereindelivery mediumdelivering payloadscharacterization techniquealso emphasizeallow observation