Authors: Shuyi Sun, Yuzheng Luo, Yang Yang, Jie Chen, Shuailong Li, Zhanpeng Wu, Shaowei Shi
Published: 2022-09-23
Source: Full article
AbstractNanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) offer a powerful means to stabilize the oil‐water interface and construct all‐liquid devices with advanced functions. However, as the nanoparticle size decreases to molecular‐scale, the binding energy of the NPS to the interface reduces significantly, leading to a dynamic adsorption of NPS and “liquid‐like” state of the interfacial assemblies. Here, by using the host‐guest recognition between a water‐soluble small molecule, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and an oil‐soluble polymer ligand, methyl viologen‐terminated polystyrene, a supramolecular NPS model, termed CB[7] surfactant, is described. CB[7] surfactants form and assemble rapidly at the oil‐water interface, generating an elastic film with excellent mechanical properties. The binding energy of CB[7] surfactant to the interface is sufficiently high to hold it in a jammed state, transforming the interfacial assemblies from a “liquid‐like” to “solid‐like” state, enabling the structuring of liquids. With CB[7] surfactants as the emulsifier, O/W, W/O and O/W/O emulsions can be prepared in one step. Owing to the guest‐competitive responsiveness of CB[7] surfactants, the assembly/disassembly and jamming/unjamming of CB[7] surfactants can be well controlled, leading to the reconfiguration of all‐liquid constructs.