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Li B, Chen X, Zhou Y, Zhao Y, Song T, Wu X, Shi W. Liquid-liquid phase separation of immiscible polymers at double emulsion interfaces for configurable microcapsules. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 641:299-308. [PMID: 36934577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.03.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation at complex interfaces is a common phenomenon in biological systems and is also a fundamental basis to create synthetic materials in multicomponent mixtures. Understanding the liquid-liquid phase separation in well-defined macromolecular systems is anticipated to shed light on similar behaviors in cross-disciplinary areas. Here we study a series of immiscible polymers and reveal a generic phase diagram of liquid-liquid phase separation at double emulsion interfaces, which depicts the equilibrium structures by interfacial tension and polymer fraction. We further reveal that the interfacial tensions in various systems fall on a linear relationship with spreading coefficients. Based on this theoretical guideline, the liquid-liquid phase separation can be modulated by a low fraction of amphiphilic block copolymers, leading the double emulsion droplets configurable between compartments and anisotropic shapes. The solidified anisotropic microcapsules could provide unique orientation-sensitive optical properties and thermomechanical responses. The theoretical analysis and experimental protocol in this study yield a generalizable strategy to prepare multiphase double emulsions with controlled structures and desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baihui Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaotong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Tiantian Song
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Weichao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300071, China.
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