Particle-Stabilized Emulsions as Precursors for New Materials

Robert Tilton, Chemical Engineering

We will use polymer-coated nanoparticles to prepare stable oil/water emulsions that serve as precursors for new materials. For example, the emulsions may be dried under controlled conditions to produce high surface area membranes with pores lined by polymer brushes whose thickness depends on solution conditions such as pH or ionic strength. This would lead to membranes with tunable selectivities for use in separations or in sustained release drug delivery.