Methods of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel and uses thereof
Provided herein is a method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel.
1. A method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel, the method comprising
providing a suspension of nanoparticles in a one-phase liquid mixture comprising forming the one-phase liquid mixture from a pre-determined ratio of a first liquid and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid is water (W) and the second liquid is 2,6-lutidine (L); and
triggering spinodal decomposition of the one-phase liquid mixture to form a two-phase liquid mixture,
the nanoparticles aggregating into one phase of the two-phase liquid mixture to form a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel (BIPJEL).
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising isolating the BIPJEL as a porous monolith.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the one-phase liquid mixture from a predetermined ratio of a first liquid and a second liquid comprises selecting the first liquid and the second liquid to undergo spinodal decomposition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined ratio is approximately 70:30 W/L; or approximately 72:28 W/L.
5. A method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel, the method comprising:
providing a suspension of nanoparticles in a one-phase liquid mixture comprising selecting nanoparticles that form a colloidal gel in the one-phase liquid mixture; and
triggering spinodal decomposition of the one-phase liquid mixture to form a two-phase liquid mixture,
the nanoparticles aggregating into one phase of the two-phase liquid mixture to form a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel (BIPJEL).
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting nanoparticles that form a colloidal gel in the one-phase liquid mixture comprises selecting the one-phase liquid mixture that has a pre-determined pH and selecting the nanoparticles that have a low surface charge at that pre-determined pH.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pre-determined pH is approximately 9.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the nanoparticles are selected to be alumina-coated silica (AlO—SiO) nanoparticles.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the nanoparticles are at a concentration of approximately 5 wt % to approximately 10 wt %; or approximately 5 wt % to approximately 15 wt %; or approximately 5 wt % to approximately 20 wt %.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanoparticles are at a concentration of approximately 5 wt %; or approximately 10 wt %.
11. A method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel, the method comprising:
providing a suspension of nanoparticles in a one-phase liquid mixture comprising mixing the nanoparticles and the one-phase liquid mixture, wherein the mixing comprises low-energy mixing or high-energy mixing; and
triggering spinodal decomposition of the one-phase liquid mixture to form a two-phase liquid mixture, the nanoparticles aggregating into one phase of the two-phase liquid mixture to form a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel (BIPJEL).
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein low-energy mixing comprises vortexing the nanoparticles and the one-phase liquid mixture.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein high-energy mixing comprises homogenizing the nanoparticles and the one-phase liquid mixture.
14. A method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel, the method comprising:
providing a suspension of nanoparticles in a one-phase liquid mixture; and
triggering spinodal decomposition of the one-phase liquid mixture to form a two-phase liquid mixture, wherein the triggering spinodal decomposition comprises heating the suspension to or above the lower critical solution temperature of the one-phase liquid mixture to quench the one-phase liquid mixture into the two-phase liquid mixture, wherein the lower critical solution temperature is approximately 34° C.,
the nanoparticles aggregating into one phase of the two-phase liquid mixture to form a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel (BIPJEL).
15. The method of claim 2 , wherein isolating the BIPJEL as a porous monolith comprises freezing the BIPJEL.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein freezing the BIPJEL comprises submerging the BIPJEL in liquid nitrogen.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein isolating the BIPJEL as a porous monolith further comprises vacuum drying the BIPJEL.
18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the porous monolith has macroporosity and mesoporosity.
19. A method of forming a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel, the method comprising:
providing a suspension of nanoparticles in a one-phase liquid mixture;
mixing an additive into the suspension of nanoparticles in the one-phase liquid mixture; and
triggering spinodal decomposition of the one-phase liquid mixture to form a two-phase liquid mixture, the nanoparticles aggregating into one phase of the two-phase liquid mixture to form a bicontinuous intraphase jammed emulsion gel (BIPJEL).
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the additive is a water soluble polymer.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the water soluble polymer is polyethyleneglycol.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the additive is graphene oxide.