Pickering Emulsion Template Research Articles

Enhanced Mechanical and Multifunctional Properties of GNPs/CNTs Hybridized PLA Nanocomposites by Implementing Dual‐Processing of Pickering Emulsion‐Melt Blending Methods

AbstractPolylactic acid (PLA) composites with multifunctional properties and minimal filler content are increasingly in demand across various industries. However, achieving a balance between high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding remains challenging. In this study, a dual‐processing strategy combining Pickering emulsion templating and melt blending is presented to hybridize 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2D graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) within a PLA matrix. This approach successfully forms a stable dual‐filler network, ensuring uniform dispersion of the fillers. The results show that this method significantly enhances the performance of the resulting PM‐PGxCy composites (P: Pickering emulsion; M: melt blending; x and y: mass fractions of GNPs and CNTs, respectively). Specifically, the PM‐PG1.43C1.43 composite exhibits remarkable improvements in mechanical strength (56.2 MPa), electrical conductivity (43.5 S m−1), EMI shielding effectiveness (20.1 dB), and thermal conductivity (0.34 W m·K−1), outperforming composites prepared using either method alone. These findings indicate that the dual‐processing strategy effectively combines 1D and 2D fillers, facilitating superior interfacial interactions and enhancing the multifunctional properties of PLA‐based composites. This study offers a new approach to achieving high‐performance PLA composites with low filler content, offering significant potential for applications in electronics, packaging, and EMI shielding technologies.

A metal–organic frameworks-imprinted emulsion interface with dynamic size- and site-selective recognition for significantly enhanced flavoniods extraction

The boronic acid suspended Cr based MIL-100 (MIL-100-B) sorbents have been widely used to separation of cis-diol containing molecules. However, it’s still challenging in fabrication of high performance metal organic frameworks (MOFs) due to its irregular size and low content of functional groups. For improving identification efficiency, the emulsion microreactor were firstly designed to purify MIL-100-B prior to their use. Herein, a highly ordered MOFs-imprinted polymer microsphere was synthesized by O/W Pickering emulsion template, which can highly selective separation of MIL-100-B via the synergistic effect of boronic acid sites and imprinted cavities. The obtained purified H-MIL-100-B exhibited the uniform size and abundant boronic acid groups (B elements ratio up to 27.37 %). The emulsion imprinted microsphere (EIMs) showed the good selectivity towards MIL-100-B. Additionally, the obtained MOF-imprinted microsphere exhibited green, convenient, sustainable separation process towards the purification and recycle of MIL-100-B. The purified MOFs (H-MIL-100-B) were used to specific bind with cis-diol flavoniods naringin (NRG). Satisfactorily, H-MIL-100-B show high adsorption amount (43.69μmol/g at 308 K), fast capture kinetics (160 min), high selectivity and excellent regenerability (up to seven cycles). Remarkably, the purified NRG solutions displayed lasting antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with inhibition zone of 13.47 mm. More importantly, the H-MIL-100-B could effectively promote the specific recognition ability of NRG by reducing matrix interference and improving purification efficiency (93.93 %) from complex natural extracts. A high score (0.75) was predicted via analytical GREEnness (AGREE) approaches, demonstrating environmentally friendly and greenness of separation process. The MOFs-imprinted emulsion microspheres possessed dynamic recognition properties towards target MOFs, thus opening new direction for the development of convenient and efficient microreactor for the purification of other functional MOFs.

Synthesis of palygorskite based microspheres for efficient and recyclable simultaneous removal of radioactive iodine and iodide

The valence state of radioactive iodine is abundant and convertible. Therefore, it is crucial to synthesize a cost-effective, recyclable adsorbent that can effectively and simultaneously remove polyvalent radioactive iodine. Polymerized microsphere adsorbents (PMs) with pore size of 10 ∼ 20 μm and surface of palygorskite (PAL) were prepared by the Pickering emulsion template method using dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as functional monomer and affordable PAL as matrix material. Under the synergistic effect of chemical adsorption of tertiary amine group in PDEAEMA and physical adsorption, the optimized PM-2 exhibits excellent adsorption activities for gaseous iodine (2.98 g/g), iodine in n-hexane (1.39 g/g), and iodide (1.48 mmol/g). After heating and soaking in NaOH solution, the high adsorption capacity and almost unchanged morphology and crystal structure of PM-2 after 5 cycles indicate that PMs have outstanding physical and chemical stability and reusability. Importantly, PMs also show astonishing adsorption activity for the simultaneous removal of iodine and iodide. Moreover, the ultra-fast adsorption rate and ultra-high adsorption efficiency of PMs provide promising results for the removal of polyvalent radioactive iodine in environmental remediation.

Chitin nanocrystal Pickering emulsions for sustainable release pesticide microencapsulation with superior leaf adhesion and enhanced safety

Traditional pesticides often exhibit high non-target toxicity, poor stability, short persistence, and susceptibility to wash-off by rain. Pesticide microencapsulation represents a significant advancement in formulation strategies, addressing safety and sustainability concerns associated with conventional pesticides. This study explores the utilization of biodegradable chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), prepared via acid hydrolysis, for the development of pesticide microcapsules. Specifically, ChNCs were employed to emulsify molten pesticides, followed by interfacial polymerization to fabricate pesticide-loaded microcapsules. Using molten emulsification and Pickering emulsion templates offer a simple and solvent-free approach for microcapsule preparation, eliminating the need for conventional surfactants. The microcapsules displayed a size distribution ranging from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers, which could be tuned by adjusting the ChNCs content. These microcapsules demonstrated remarkable properties, including a high pesticide loading capacity (reaching 78.7% for lambda-cyhalothrin), excellent storage stability, and enzyme-responsive release behavior. Furthermore, the abundant positive charges enhanced the interaction between the microcapsules and leaf surfaces, leading to improved pesticide retention. Microencapsulation reduces acute insecticidal activity of pesticides due to the slow-release effect; however, field experiments provide compelling evidence that microcapsule formulations significantly prolong pesticide efficacy compared to conventional formulations. Additionally, microencapsulation significantly improved the safety of pesticides, with the LC50 increasing from 0.0116 mg/L to 3.75 mg/L. Overall, this study introduces a promising method for pesticide microencapsulation using ChNCs Pickering emulsion, highlighting its potential advantages and providing valuable insights for the development of environmentally friendly and novel pesticide formulations.

Pesticide delivery microcapsule based on maleic anhydride‐functionalized cellulose nanocrystals‐stabilized pickering emulsion

AbstractThe efficient use of pesticides is conducive to the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature, and pesticide transport carriers can enhance the utilization value of pesticides. However, design flaws in many pesticide carriers have resulted in numerous environmental and toxicity problems. Therefore, this paper proposed a method for synthesizing pesticide microcapsules using Pickering emulsion templates stabilized by maleic anhydride‐functionalized cellulose nanocrystals‐g‐poly (methyl methacrylate) (MACNCs‐g‐MMA), viz., simple radical polymerization of maleic anhydride‐functionalized cellulose nanocrystals with methyl methacrylate in Pickering emulsion. The structure and morphology of microcapsules were characterized via the FT‐IR, XRD, TG‐DTG, and SEM techniques. The imidacloprid‐loaded MACNCs‐g‐MMA (IMI@MACNCs‐g‐MMA) presented a high encapsulation efficiency (~94.13%) and drug loading efficiency (~24.00%). The release behavior was affected by temperature, viz., higher temperature promoted the release of IMI. Regarding the spread and retention on the leaf surface, the IMI@MACNCs‐g‐MMA demonstrated significant advantages over commercial IMI water‐dispersible granules (CG) (36.9° vs. 104.9° for contact angle, 14.3 vs. 30.0 mg cm−2 for retention). This study provides a promising pesticide formula for sustainable agriculture.

Fabrication of stable hydrogel microspheres with hydrophobic shell using water-in-water (W/W) Pickering emulsion template

Hydrogel microspheres are promising for food applications. The water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion template is commonly used to prepare the hydrogel microspheres. However, this method often involves synthetic surfactants and toxic organic solvents to remove the oil phase. The swelling problem of the resultant microspheres is another obstacle. In this study the water-in-water (W/W) emulsion template of gelatin-in-dextran was used to prepare the hydrogel microspheres, without the addition of surfactants, toxic reagents and high energy input. To prevent swelling, zein particles modified with alginate were served as a hydrophobic shell of the gelatin core. The formation evolution of these core–shell microspheres and its relevant factors including phase behavior of the immiscible gelatin/dextran, the binding of zein/alginate and the addition of the modified zein particles were investigated. It was found that small amount of alginate could induce zein particles to absorb on the gelatin surface, whereas the excess led to absorption competition. When using 0.6 wt% particles with zein/alginate ratio of 1:0.5, the ideal core–shell microspheres which were fully covered by the particles and with a self-supporting architecture in uniform size (18.8 ± 0.1 μm) and spherical shape were obtained. These microspheres showed remarkable stability under the conditions of heat treatment, varied pHs and salt concentrations and long-term storage either in refrigerator or room environment. Their sizes were easily manipulated by adjusting the concentration and molar mass of the biopolymers. It is believed that the desired stability and tunable sizes of these edible core–shell microspheres could contribute the development of their applications in foods.

Strontium-Modified porous attapulgite composite hydrogel scaffold with advanced angiogenic and osteogenic potential for bone defect repair

Nano-attapulgite (nano-ATP) has shown potential in promoting mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion, growth and osteogenic gene expression. In this study, we investigated a 3D-bioprinted porous Sr-ATP (strontium-doped nano-ATP)/GelMA/chitosan composite hydrogel scaffold for bone regeneration. The experiment was divided into four groups based on the concentration of Sr-ATP: control (0%), 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0%. The primary novelty of our research lies in the incorporation of Sr-ATP, which enhances the biological and mechanical properties of scaffolds. Additionally, we utilized a stable Pickering emulsion templating technique combined with 3D printing to fabricate the scaffold, ensuring a uniform and stable porous structure. The biological and mechanical properties of the scaffold were evaluated in vitro, and its potential to promote angiogenesis and osteogenesis was assessed in vivo using cranial defect model. Our results indicate that the scaffold presents a promising solution for bone formation in bone defects, demonstrating significant improvements in both angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Design and engineering of 3D plasmonic superstructure based on Pickering emulsion templates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy applications in chemical and biomedical sensing

The integration of Pickering emulsion as a versatile template facilitates the assembly of nanoscale and microscale NPs, leading to the formation of intricate 3D superstructures. These superstructures exhibit collective properties, including optical, electric, and catalytic functionalities, surpassing individual building block. This review comprehensively explores the design and engineering principles behind the creation of these multifaceted superstructures. The exploration begins with the fundamental aspects of surface chemistry governing nanoparticles, a crucial factor in directing their assembly behavior at the curved liquid–liquid emulsion interface. Emphasis is placed on understanding emulsion stability, a pivotal element guiding the formation of stable 3D architectures. The discussion extends to unraveling the underlying mechanisms promoting the formation of these 3D superstructures. The focus lies in elucidating the optical functionalities of these superstructures, particularly in the context of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy application. The surveyed literature showcases diverse Pickering emulsion-based strategies employed in the assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles into intricate superstructures, offering controlled architectures and unlocking unique potentials for chemical and biochemical sensing.

Investigating the Potential of CO2 Nanobubble Systems for Enhanced Oil Recovery in Extra-Low-Permeability Reservoirs.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) stands as one of the effective means to reduce carbon emissions and serves as a crucial technical pillar for achieving experimental carbon neutrality. CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) represents the foremost method for CO2 utilization. CO2-EOR represents a favorable technical means of efficiently developing extra-low-permeability reservoirs. Nevertheless, the process known as the direct injection of CO2 is highly susceptible to gas scrambling, which reduces the exposure time and contact area between CO2 and the extra-low-permeability oil matrix, making it challenging to utilize CO2 molecular diffusion effectively. In this paper, a comprehensive study involving the application of a CO2 nanobubble system in extra-low-permeability reservoirs is presented. A modified nano-SiO2 particle with pro-CO2 properties was designed using the Pickering emulsion template method and employed as a CO2 nanobubble stabilizer. The suitability of the CO2 nanobubbles for use in extra-low-permeability reservoirs was evaluated in terms of their temperature resistance, oil resistance, dimensional stability, interfacial properties, and wetting-reversal properties. The enhanced oil recovery (EOR) effect of the CO2 nanobubble system was evaluated through core experiments. The results indicate that the CO2 nanobubble system can suppress the phenomena of channeling and gravity overlap in the formation. Additionally, the system can alter the wettability, thereby improving interfacial activity. Furthermore, the system can reduce the interfacial tension, thus expanding the wave efficiency of the repellent phase fluids. The system can also improve the ability of CO2 to displace the crude oil or water in the pore space. The CO2 nanobubble system can take advantage of its size and high mass transfer efficiency, among other advantages. Injection of the gas into the extra-low-permeability reservoir can be used to block high-gas-capacity channels. The injected gas is forced to enter the low-permeability layer or matrix, with the results of core simulation experiments indicating a recovery rate of 66.28%. Nanobubble technology, the subject of this paper, has significant practical implications for enhancing the efficiency of CO2-EOR and geologic sequestration, as well as providing an environmentally friendly method as part of larger CCUS-EOR.

Fabrication of thermo-responsive microcapsule pesticide delivery system from maleic anhydride-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals-stabilized pickering emulsion template

The overuse of pesticides has shown their malpractices. Novel and sustainable formulations have consequently attracted abundant attention but still appear to have drawbacks. Here, we use a maleic anhydride-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals-stabilized Pickering emulsions template to prepare thermo-responsive microcapsules for a pesticide delivery system via radical polymerization with N-isopropyl acrylamide. The microcapsules (MACNCs-g-NIPAM) are characterized by the microscope, SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG-DTG, and DSC techniques. Imidacloprid (IMI) is loaded on MACNCs-g-NIPAM to form smart release systems (IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM) with high encapsulation efficiency (~88.49%) and loading capability (~55.02%). The IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM present a significant thermo-responsiveness by comparing the release ratios at 35°C and 25°C (76.22% vs 50.78%). It also exhibits advantages in spreadability, retention and flush resistance on the leaf surface compared with the commercial IMI water-dispersible granules (CG). IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM also manifest a significant advantage over CG (11.12 mg/L vs 38.90 mg/L for LC50) regarding activity tests of targeted organisms. In addition, IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM has shown excellent biocompatibility and low toxicity. All the benefits mentioned above prove the excellent potential of IMI@MACNCs-g-NIPAM as a smart pesticide formulation.

Fabrication of microcapsules with graphene/organic hybrid shell based on Pickering emulsions for self‐healing anti‐corrosive coatings

AbstractDuring the utilization of organic coatings, microcracks may arise as a result of external environmental influences and inherent aging, significantly diminishing the coating's lifespan. In this study, we employed the Pickering emulsion template method combined with interfacial polymerization to fabricate graphene oxide/polyurethane/polyaniline (GO/PU/PANI) organic–inorganic hybrid shell microcapsules utilizing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as the core material. The capsules exhibited an average particle diameter of 3.11 μm and an encapsulation rate of 78.19%. Subsequently, these prepared capsules were incorporated into a photocurable resin to obtain a self‐healing corrosion‐resistant coating. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that even with just 5% addition of microcapsules, nearly complete repair could be achieved. The tensile strength and flexural strength of the self‐healing material containing 5% microcapsules were measured at 84.8 MPa and 193 MPa respectively. These values represented only a marginal decrease in tensile strength by 2.75% and flexural strength by 5.39%, compared to the substrate without capsule addition. Remarkably, after immersing the repaired coating in a NaCl solution with a concentration of 5 wt% for up to 250 hours, the alternating current impedance value remained stable at approximately 6.9 × 105 Ω·cm2. This outstanding corrosion resistance can be attributed to synergistic effects between PANI and IPDI within the coating system, thereby expanding its potential applications under harsh conditions.

Multi-Stimuli-Responsive, Topology-Regulated, and Lignin-Based Nano/Microcapsules from Pickering Emulsion Templates for Bidirectional Delivery of Pesticides.

The increasing demand for improving pesticide utilization efficiency has prompted the development of sustainable, targeted, and stimuli-responsive delivery systems. Herein, a multi-stimuli-responsive nano/microcapsule bidirectional delivery system loaded with pyraclostrobin (Pyr) is prepared through interfacial cross-linking from a lignin-based Pickering emulsion template. During this process, methacrylated alkali lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) are utilized as stabilizers for the tunable oil-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion. Subsequently, a thiol-ene radical reaction occurs with the acid-labile cross-linkers at the oil-water interface, leading to the formation of lignin nano/microcapsules (LNCs) with various topological shapes. Through the investigation of the polymerization process and the structure of LNC, it was found that the amphiphilicity-driven diffusion and distribution of cyclohexanone impact the topology of LNC. The obtained Pyr@LNC exhibits high encapsulation efficiency, tunable size, and excellent UV shielding to Pyr. Additionally, the flexible topology of the Pyr@LNC shell enhances the retention and adhesion of the foliar surface. Furthermore, Pyr@LNC exhibits pH/laccase-responsive targeting against Botrytis disease, enabling the intelligent release of Pyr. The in vivo fungicidal activity shows that efficacy of Pyr@LNC is 53% ± 2% at 14 days postspraying, whereas the effectiveness of Pyr suspension concentrate is only 29% ± 4%, and the acute toxicity of Pyr@LNC to zebrafish is reduced by more than 9-fold compared with that of Pyr technical. Moreover, confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that the LNCs can be bidirectionally translocated in plants. Therefore, the topology-regulated bidirectional delivery system LNC has great practical potential for sustainable agriculture.

In-depth investigation of how carbon nanofiller dispersion affects microcellular foaming behavior in poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites

This study explores the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion on the microcellular foaming characteristics of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) matrices. Two distinct dispersion methods, primary (PD) and secondary (SD), were employed to fabricate PBS/CNT nanocomposites, resulting in different filler dispersion states. The PD technique involves the conventional method of direct melt blending PBS with CNTs, while the SD technique adopts a more advanced strategy by integrating the Pickering emulsion template with melt blending, achieving finer CNTs distribution within the PBS matrix. The results reveal that the SD technique leads to significantly more uniform distribution of CNTs, which in turn enhances the melt strength and crystallization of the polymer matrix, thereby broadening the window for microcellular foaming. Notably, foams developed through the SD method exhibited a decrease in cell size to 10.4 μm and an increase in cell density to 1.8×1010 cells·cm‐3. Moreover, this uniform distribution of CNTs contributed to superior cell stability and an increase in compressive strength to 14.0 MPa. These findings highlight the pivotal role of nanofiller dispersion in determining foam properties and establish foundational knowledge for designing PBS foams with consistent and uniform cell structures. Such advancements are crucial for enhancing the applicability and performance of PBS-based materials across a spectrum of industries.

Processable Pickering emulsion for composite cryogel with cellulose nanofibrils and nanochitin

Cryogels that are constructed with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are important as green materials for a wide range of applications. However, their utilization is limited by inherent hydrophilicity and insufficient mechanical properties. Herein, a processable CNF/nanochitin (NCh)-stabilized Pickering emulsion that contains polylactide (PLA) in the oil phase is developed to directly produce ternary composite cryogels via freeze-drying. The complexation of CNF with NCh promotes CNF adsorption at the surface of PLA droplets, resulting in formation of uniform Pickering PLA droplets. The CNF/NCh complex-stabilized PLA droplets are easy to be translated to the internal structure of the cryogels, exhibiting lightweight nature and possessing highly porous structure. The interconnected network and lamellar structure formed by the CNF/NCh complexes, associating with inclusion of PLA particles, improve the cryogel structure integrity upon post-processing and endow hydrophilic cryogel with water resistance. This study offers a straightforward and eco-friendly Pickering emulsion template on fabrication of the CNF-based composite cryogel with controllable microstructure and mechanical performance, broadening construction of nanocellulose-based composites.

Ultralight, Robust, Thermal Insulating Silica Nanolace Aerogels Derived from Pickering Emulsion Templates.

Synthesis of silica aerogel insulators with ultralight weight and strong mechanical properties using a simplified technique remains challenging for functional soft materials. This study introduces a promising method for the fabrication of mechanically reinforced ultralight silica aerogels by employing attractive silica nanolace (ASNLs)-armored Pickering emulsion templates. For this, silica nanolaces (SiNLs) are fabricated by surrounding a cellulose nanofiber with necklace-shaped silica nanospheres. In order to achieve amphiphilicity, which is crucial for the stabilization of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions, hydrophobic alkyl chains and hydrophilic amine groups are grafted onto the surface of SiNLs by silica coupling reactions. Freeze-drying of ASNLs-armored Pickering emulsions has established a new type of aerogel system. The ASNLs-supported mesoporous aerogel shows 3-fold greater compressive strength, 4-fold reduced heat transfer, and a swift heat dissipation profile compared to that of the bare ASNL aerogel. Additionally, the ASNL aerogel achieves an ultralow density of 8 mg cm-3, attributed to the pore architecture generated from closely jammed emulsion drops. These results show the potential of the ASNL aerogel system, which is ultralight, mechanically stable, and thermally insulating and could be used in building services, energy-saving technologies, and the aerospace industry.

Mixing dynamics in the synthesis of nanoparticle-stabilized water-in-water emulsion: Impact on size and stability

This communication presents a comprehensive investigation into the impact of mixing on the synthesis of water-in-water Pickering emulsions. The approach employs commercial-grade oppositely charged nanoparticles within two distinct fluid phases, facilitating self-assembly and the formation of aggregates with variable sizes and compositions. Enhanced interfacial area, achieved through aggregate adsorption at the interface, elevates the Gibbs detachment energy of particles between the two aqueous phases, leading to stable emulsion formation. We further explore the effect of various mixing devices, including high-pressure and sonic wave mixing. Our findings reveal that mixing within the aqueous phase critically influences emulsion size, with sonicator-assisted mixing producing smaller droplets than homogenizer mixing. Both devices yield poly-dispersed droplet size distributions. Interestingly, the droplet size correlates well with the Hinze scale (hd), and the Kolmogorov length scale (ld) exhibits good correspondence within a specific operating range. The proposed method introduces a streamlined, one-step synthesis process for easy preparation, demonstrating excellent stability for a minimum of 30 days. This study pioneers the investigation of mixing effects within an aqueous two-phase system utilizing a Pickering emulsion template.

Carbon quantum dots/UiO-66@polysulfone porous microspheres fabricated via pickering emulsion template for pollutant removal

The advancement of sophisticated photocatalytic materials for environmental amelioration has become increasingly imperative in the context of persistent organic pollutants in aqueous effluents. The amalgamation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with nanocomposite constituents has demonstrated promising prospects in augmenting photocatalytic efficiency. Nevertheless, obstacles persist in the realms of optimizing photon absorption and the segregation of electron-hole pairs. The application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) within this sphere, particularly in synergy with amino-functionalized MOFs such as UiO-66-NH2, remains underexplored. In this study, we elucidate the synthesis of UiO-66@Polysulfone porous microspheres, augmented by CQDs, employing an innovative Pickering emulsion template approach for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Our findings reveal that this composite material not only manifests a distinctive hollow microsphere architecture, contributing to an elevated specific surface area, but also markedly enhances the degradation efficacies of both methylene blue and tetracycline under visible light irradiation. Moreover, this research accentuates the material's exceptional recyclability and stability, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and efficacious solution for the remediation of wastewater and organic pollutant degradation.

Synthesis and structural design of microspheres comprising cellulose nanofibers and artificial lignin polymer by enzyme-mediated Pickering emulsion templating

An enzyme-mediated Pickering emulsion templating strategy to fabricate spherical microparticles comprising cellulose nanofibers and artificial lignin expands the greater use of renewable, carbon dioxide-fixed wood in green cosmetics.

Efficient reduction of photopolymerization shrinkage stress through microporous particles templated from Pickering emulsion droplets

Photopolymerization of acrylate based resin is a rapid, efficient and low-energy curing process that is achieving wide applications in many industrial fields. However, the volumetric shrinkage and the shrinkage stress of the cured resin have long been the major factor reduces adhesion strength of UV curable coatings onto the substrate. In this paper, the Pickering emulsion template method is employed to prepare elastic microporous particles with well-defined surface and internal structures and these microporous particles are thus added into the UV curable resin formulation to verify their capability to reduce polymerization stress through the microporous structure. The gel point time of UV-curable materials is delayed by 11 s with 1.5 wt% addition of the microporous particles and the double bond conversion at the gel point is subsequently increased. By real time MIR-photo-rheology and 3D line scanning laser confocal measurement, it is found that addition of microporous particles into the resin formulation can reduce the volume shrinkage of the resin by 61.2 % with only 1.5 wt% microporous particles, while the excellent mechanical and thermal properties of the cured resin is basically maintained.

Ternary composite degradable plastics based on Alpinia galanga essential oil Pickering emulsion templates: A potential multifunctional active packaging

To reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics and explore multifunctional plastics, this study was conducted to prepare ternary composite plastics by doping Pickering emulsions containing Alpinia galanga essential oil into a polymer network consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol)-acetylated pullulan polysaccharides. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that although incompatible components were present in the composite plastic, compatibility improved with the addition of pullulan polysaccharides, resulting in smooth surfaces and cross-sections, which was consistent with the observation of continuous dark zones and low relative roughness (Ra = 5.51) in Atomic force microscopy. Further, Fourier transform spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction characterization revealed that the composite plastic disrupted the molecular and crystalline structures of the pure PVA, causing the stretching vibration of -OH and the decrease of relative crystallinity. Moreover, this plastic performed optimally at a PVA to pullulan polysaccharide ratio of 75:25, exhibiting good thermal (13.12 J/g) and mechanical properties, low water absorption (70.71 %) and water vapor transmission (1.80 × 10−3 g/m2 s), as well as excellent degradability. In addition, Alpinia galanga essential oil components in the composite plastic provided favorable antioxidant scavenging of DPPH and ABTS and inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Chicken meat packaging revealed that the plastic maintained sensory parameters such as pH and color by inhibiting the oxidation of proteins and lipids during shelf-life. The findings provide insights into developing innovative, green, multifunctional packaging and broaden the in-depth application of Alpinia galanga essential oil.