A Simple, Scalable Method for Producing Bicontinuous Jammed Emulsions (or Bijels) with Sub-micrometer Domains
Thomas P. Russell, Ph.D.
- Soft formulations of immiscible liquids for cosmetics or personal care products
- Multiphase microreactors
- Microfluidic devices
- Membrane contactors
- Catalysis membranes
- Multiscale porous materials
- Simple and facile generation of bijels
- Stable bijel systems with functionalized liquid domain interfaces
- Sub-micrometer liquid domains that are over an order of magnitude smaller than those produced using conventional methods
- Highly scalable process
- Versatile chemistries enabling tailoring bijels to specific end use applications
Bicontinuous jammed emulsions (or bijels) are tortuous, interconnected structures of two immiscible liquids, kinetically trapped by colloidal particles that are irreversibly bound to the interfaces of the two liquids. This invention provides a simple and easily scalable method for producing bijels with sub-micrometer domains that are over an order of magnitude smaller than those produced using conventional methods. The method involves the use of nanoparticle surfactants and simple mechanical forces to generate such bijels. The nanoparticle surfactants consist of synthetic polymers and nanoparticles of complementary functionality that bind at the interface between the two immiscible liquids.
Dr. Thomas P. Russell is the Silvio O. Conte Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Available for Licensing and/or Sponsored Research
UMA 18-039
Patent Pending
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