Ionic Liquid-Containing Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Graphene Oxide-Based SurfactantsClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Qinmo LuoQinmo LuoDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Qinmo Luo
- Yifei WangYifei WangDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Yifei Wang
- Esther YooEsther YooDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Esther Yoo
- Peiran WeiPeiran WeiDepartment of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Peiran Wei
- Emily Pentzer*Emily Pentzer*E-mail: [email protected]Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United StatesMore by Emily Pentzer
Abstract

Emulsions stabilized by particles (i.e., Pickering emulsions) are complementary to those stabilized by small molecules or polymers and most commonly consist of oil droplets dispersed in a continuous water phase, with particles assembled at the fluid–fluid interface. New particle surfactants and different fluid–fluid interfaces are critical for developing next-generation systems for a number of advanced applications. Herein we report the preparation of IL-containing emulsions stabilized by graphene oxide (GO)-based nanoparticles using the IL [Bmim][PF6]: GO nanosheets stabilize IL-in-water emulsions, and alkylated GO nanosheets (C18-GO) stabilize IL-in-oil emulsions. The impact of particle concentration, fluid–fluid ratio, and addition of acid or base on emulsion formation and stability is studied, with distinct effects for the water and oil systems observed. We then illustrate the broad applicability of GO-based particle surfactants by preparing emulsions with different ILs and preparing inverted emulsions (water-in-IL and oil-in-IL emulsions). The latter systems were accessed by tuning the polarity of GO nanosheets by functionalization with a perfluorinated alkyl chain such that they were dispersible in IL. This work provides insight into the preparation of different IL-containing emulsions and lays a foundation for the architecture of dissimilar materials into composite systems.
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