Compositions and methods for forming emulsions
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for forming droplets and/or emulsions. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods comprise two or more components miscible at a first temperature and immiscible at a second temperature, dispersed in an outer phase.
1. An emulsion, comprising:
an outer phase; and
a plurality of droplets dispersed within the outer phase of the emulsion, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of droplets comprises two or more components,
wherein each component is different and is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, a fluorocarbon, a silicone, a thermotropic liquid crystal, an ionic liquid, a polymer, and combinations thereof,
wherein the two or more components are miscible at a first temperature such that the two or more components form a single phase within the plurality of droplets, and
wherein the two or more components are immiscible at a second temperature such that the two or more components form a first phase and a second phase within the plurality of droplets.
2. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the two or more components are immiscible with the outer phase at the first temperature and the second temperature.
3. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the second phase is encapsulated within the first phase at the second temperature.
4. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the second phase is partially encapsulated within the first phase at the second temperature.
5. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature.
6. The emulsion of claim 5 , wherein the first temperature is greater than an upper consolute temperature of the two or more components.
7. The emulsion of claim 5 , wherein the second temperature is less than an upper consolute temperature of the two or more components.
8. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the two or more components form Janus droplets.
9. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the outer phase is an aqueous phase.
10. The emulsion of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises an amphiphilic compound.
11. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein the amphiphilic compound is selected from the group consisting of: ionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, polymers, proteins, DNA, RNA, acids, carbohydrates, saccharides, enzymes, chromophores, lipids, graphene oxide, combinations thereof, and derivatives thereof.
12. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein the amphiphilic compound comprises a perfluorinated segment or an ethylene glycol segment.
13. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein the amphiphilic compound has a greater miscibility in the outer phase than a miscibility in the two or more components.
14. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein the amphiphilic compound has a greater miscibility in at least one of the two or more components than a miscibility of the amphiphilic compound in the outer phase.
15. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein an interface between the outer phase and the plurality of droplets comprises the amphiphilic compound.
16. The emulsion of claim 10 , wherein an interface between a first component of the two or more components and a second component of the two or more components comprises the amphiphilic compound.