Stimulus-responsive soft dispersed systems developed based on functional polymer particles: bubbles and liquid marbles

Abstract

There is increasing interest in solid particle-stabilized soft dispersed systems, including bubbles/foams (a gas-in-liquid dispersed system) and liquid marbles (a liquid-in-gas dispersed system). The studies on these dispersed systems have mainly been conducted utilizing inorganic particles and research using polymer particles has recently gained attention. Synthetic colloidal polymer particles are attractive stabilizers, as their hydrophilic–hydrophobic character and surface chemistries can be designed and controlled on demand via polymerization with various functional monomers and post polymer reactions. The successful synthesis of polymer particles would inspire the construction of well-defined and functionalized particle-stabilized gas–liquid soft dispersed systems. In this review article, bubbles/foams and liquid marbles stabilized solely with stimulus-responsive polymer particles will be reviewed. The stabilities, structures, and motions of these dispersed systems can be controlled by external stimuli. There is increasing interest in solid particle-stabilized soft dispersed systems, including bubbles/foams (a gas-in-liquid dispersed system) and liquid marbles (a liquid-in-gas dispersed system). Synthetic colloidal polymer particles are attractive stabilizers, as their hydrophilic–hydrophobic character and surface chemistries can be designed and controlled on demand via polymerization with various functional monomers and post polymer reactions. In this review article, bubbles/foams and liquid marbles stabilized solely with stimulus-responsive polymer particles will be reviewed. The stabilities, structures, and motions of these dispersed systems can be controlled by external stimuli.