Direct calculation of anisotropic surface stresses during deformation of a particle-covered drop

Interfacial rheology of linearly growing polyelectrolyte multilayers at the water-air interface: from liquid to solid viscoelasticity

Despite the long history of investigations of polyelectrolyte multilayer formation on solid or liquid surfaces, important questions remain open concerning the construction of the first set of layers. These are generally deposited on a first anchoring layer of different chemistry, influencing their construction and properties. We propose here an in-depth investigation of the formation of NaPSS/PAH multilayers at the air/water interface in the absence of a chemically different anchoring layer, profiting from the surface activity of NaPSS. To analyse the mechanical properties of the different layers, we combine recently established analysis techniques of an inflating/deflating bubble exploiting simultaneous shape and pressure measurement: bubble shape elastometry, general stress decomposition and capillary meniscus dynanometry. We complement these measurements by interfacial shear rheology. The obtained results allow us to confirm, first of all, the strength of the aforementioned techniques to characterize complex interfaces with non-linear viscoelastic properties. Furthermore, their sensitivity allows us to show that the multilayer properties are highly sensitive to the temporal and mechanical conditions under which they are constructed and manipulated. We nevertheless identify a robust trend showing a clear transition from a liquid-like viscoelastic membrane to a solid-like viscoelastic membrane after the deposition of 5 layers. We interpret this as the number of layers required to create a fully connected multilayer, which is consistent with previous results obtained on solid or liquid interfaces.

Particle-covered droplet and a particle shell under compressive electric stress

Understanding of the behavior of an individual droplet suspended in a liquid and subjected to a stress is important for studying and designing more complex systems, such as emulsions. Here, we present an experimental study of the behavior of a particle-covered droplet and its particle shell under compressive stress. The stress was induced by an application of a DC electric field. We studied how the particle coverage (φ), particle size (d), and the strength of an electric field (E) influence the magnitude of the droplet deformation (D). The experimental results indicate that adding electrically insulating particles to a droplet interface drastically changes the droplet deformation by increasing its magnitude. We also found that the magnitude of the deformation is not retraceable during the electric field sweeping, i.e., the strain-stress curves form a hysteresis loop due to the energy dissipation. The field-induced droplet deformation was accompanied by structural and morphological changes in the particle shell. We found that shells made of smaller particles were more prone to jamming and formation of arrested shells after removal of an electric stress.

Electric-field-induced deformation, yielding, and crumpling of jammed particle shells formed on non-spherical Pickering droplets

Droplets covered with densely packed solid particles, often called Pickering droplets, are used in a variety of fundamental studies and practical applications. For many applications, it is essential to understand the mechanics of such particle-laden droplets subjected to external stresses. Several research groups have studied theoretically and experimentally the deformation, relaxation, rotation, and stability of Pickering droplets. Most of the research concerns spherical Pickering droplets. However, little is known about non-spherical Pickering droplets with arrested particle shells subjected to compressive stress. The experimental results presented here contribute to filling this gap in research. We deform arrested non-spherical Pickering droplets by subjecting them to electric fields, and study the effect of droplet geometry and size, as well as particle size and electric field strength, on the deformation and yielding of arrested non-spherical Pickering droplets. We explain why a more aspherical droplet and/or a droplet covered with a shell made of larger particles required higher electric stress to deform and yield. We also show that an armored droplet can absorb the electric stress differently (i.e., through either in-plane or out-of-plane particle rearrangements) depending on the strength of the applied electric field. Furthermore, we demonstrate that particle shells may fail through various crumpling instabilities, including ridge formation, folding, and wrinkling, as well as inward indentation.

The pinch-off dynamics of bubbles coated by microparticles

HYPOTHESIS

While the pinch-off dynamics of bubbles is known to be influenced by changes in surface tension, previous studies have only assessed changes due to liquid properties or surfactant effects at the air-liquid interface but not due to the presence of particles. The current study proposes that particles at the air-liquid interface play an important role in changing the surface tension and thus the pinch-off dynamics of particle-laden bubbles.

EXPERIMENTS

High-speed photography was used to study the pinch-off dynamics of air bubbles coated by a monolayer of silica microparticles. The influence of bubble surface coverage and particle size classes on the bubble pinch-off dynamics were explored.

FINDINGS

We identify that although the scaling exponent of the power law that governs the pinch-off of coated and uncoated bubbles is the same, the pinch-off dynamics is distinctly different when particles are present at the air-liquid interface due to a decrease in surface tension with time in the neck region. We suggest that the surface pressure generated by particle interaction reduces the pinch-off speed by reducing the apparent surface tension. We observe that the apparent surface tension is dependent on particle size but not on the percentage of bubble surface coated by particles.

Mechanical Properties of Solidifying Assemblies of Nanoparticle Surfactants at the Oil-Water Interface

The effect of polymer surfactant structure and concentration on the self-assembly, mechanical properties, and solidification of nanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) at the oil-water interface was studied. The surface tension of the oil-water interface was found to depend strongly on the choice of the polymer surfactant used to assemble the NPSs, with polymer surfactants bearing multiple polar groups being the most effective at reducing interfacial tension and driving the NPS assembly. By contrast, only small variations in the shear modulus of the system were observed, suggesting that it is determined largely by particle density. In the presence of polymer surfactants bearing multiple functional groups, NPS assemblies on pendant drop surfaces were observed to spontaneously solidify above a critical polymer surfactant concentration. Interfacial solidification accelerated rapidly as polymer surfactant concentration was increased. On long timescales after solidification, pendant drop interfaces were observed to spontaneously wrinkle at sufficiently low surface tensions (approximately 5 mN m^-1). Interfacial shear rheology of the NPS assemblies was elastic-dominated, with the shear modulus ranging from 0.1 to 1 N m^-1, comparable to values obtained for nanoparticle monolayers elsewhere. Our work paves the way for the development of designer, multicomponent oil-water interfaces with well-defined mechanical, structural, and functional properties.

Building Reconfigurable Devices Using Complex Liquid-Fluid Interfaces

Liquid-fluid interfaces provide a platform both for structuring liquids into complex shapes and assembling dimensionally confined, functional nanomaterials. Historically, attention in this area has focused on simple emulsions and foams, in which surface-active materials such as surfactants or colloids stabilize structures against coalescence and alter the mechanical properties of the interface. In recent decades, however, a growing body of work has begun to demonstrate the full potential of the assembly of nanomaterials at liquid-fluid interfaces to generate functionally advanced, biomimetic systems. Here, a broad overview is given, from fundamentals to applications, of the use of liquid-fluid interfaces to generate complex, all-liquid devices with a myriad of potential applications.

Electrostatic-Driven Dynamic Jamming of 2D Nanoparticles at Interfaces for Controlled Molecular Diffusion

Dynamically engineering the interfacial interaction of nanoparticles has emerged as a new approach for bottom-up fabrication of smart systems to tailor molecular diffusion and controlled release. Janus zwitterionic nanoplates are reported that can be switched between a locked and unlocked state at interfaces upon changing surface charge, allowing manipulation of interfacial properties in a fast, flexible, and switchable manner. Combining experimental and modeling studies, an unambiguous correlation is established among the electrostatic energy, the interface geometry, and the interfacial jamming states. As a proof-of-concept, the well-controlled interfacial jamming of nanoplates enabled the switchable molecular diffusion through liquid-liquid interfaces, confirming the feasibility of using nanoparticle-based surfactants for advanced controlled release.

Buckling vs. particle desorption in a particle-covered drop subject to compressive surface stresses: a simulation study

Predicting the behaviour of particle-covered fluid interfaces under compression has implications in several fields. The surface-tension driven adhesion of particles to drops and bubbles is exploited for example to enhance the stability of foams and emulsion and develop new generation materials. When a particle-covered fluid interface is compressed, one can observe either smooth buckling or particle desorption from the interface. The microscopic mechanisms leading to the buckling-to-desorption transition are not fully understood. In this paper we simulate a spherical drop covered by a monolayer of spherical particles. The particle-covered interface is subject to time-dependent compressive surface stresses that mimic the slow deflation of the drop. The buckling-to-desorption transition depends in a non-trivial way on three non-dimensional parameters: the ratio Π_s/γ of particle-induced surface pressure and bare surface tension, the ratio a/R of particle and drop radii, and the parameter f characterising the strength of adhesion of each particle to the interface. Based on the insights from the simulations, we propose a configuration diagram describing the effect of these controlling parameters. We find that particle desorption is highly correlated with a mechanical instability that produces small-scale undulations of the monolayer of the order of the particle size that grow when the surface pressure is sufficiently large. We argue that the large local curvature associated with these small undulations can produce large normal forces, enhancing the probability of desorption.

Interfacial rheology of model particles at liquid interfaces and its relation to (bicontinuous) Pickering emulsions

Interface-dominated materials are commonly encountered in both science and technology, and typical examples include foams and emulsions. Conventionally stabilised by surfactants, emulsions can also be stabilised by micron-sized particles. These so-called Pickering-Ramsden (PR) emulsions have received substantial interest, as they are model arrested systems, rather ubiquitous in industry and promising templates for advanced materials. The mechanical properties of the particle-laden liquid-liquid interface, probed via interfacial rheology, have been shown to play an important role in the formation and stability of PR emulsions. However, the morphological processes which control the formation of emulsions and foams in mixing devices, such as deformation, break-up, and coalescence, are complex and diverse, making it difficult to identify the precise role of the interfacial rheological properties. Interestingly, the role of interfacial rheology in the stability of bicontinuous PR emulsions (bijels) has been virtually unexplored, even though the phase separation process which leads to the formation of these systems is relatively simple and the interfacial deformation processes can be better conceptualised. Hence, the aims of this topical review are twofold. First, we review the existing literature on the interfacial rheology of particle-laden liquid interfaces in rheometrical flows, focussing mainly on model latex suspensions consisting of polystyrene particles carrying sulfate groups, which have been most extensively studied to date. The goal of this part of the review is to identify the generic features of the rheology of such systems. Secondly, we will discuss the relevance of these results to the formation and stability of PR emulsions and bijels.

From drop-shape analysis to stress-fitting elastometry

Drop-shape analysis using pendant or sessile drops is a well-established experimental technique for measuring the interfacial or surface tension, and changes thereof. The method relies on deforming a drop by either gravity or buoyancy and fitting the Young-Laplace equation to the drop shape. Alternatively one can prescribe the shape and measure the pressure inside the drop or bubble using pressure tensiometry. However, when an interface with a complex microstructure is present, extra and anisotropic interfacial stresses may develop due to lateral interactions between the surface-active moieties, leading to deviations of the drop shape or even a wrinkling of the interface. To extract surface-material properties of these complex interfaces using drop-shape analysis or pressure tensiometry, the Young-Laplace law needs to be generalized in order to account for the extra and anisotropic stresses at the interface. In the present work, we review the different approaches that have been proposed to date to extract the surface tension as the thermodynamic state variable, as well as other rheological material properties such as the compression and the shear modulus. To evaluate the intrinsic performance of the methods, computer generated drops are subjected to step-area changes and then subjected to analysis using the different methods. Shape-fitting methods, now combined with an adequate constitutive method, do however perform rather poorly in determining the elastic stresses, especially at small area strains. An additional measurement o f the pressure or capillary-pressure tensiometry is required to improve the sensitivity. However, pressure-based methods still require the knowledge of the undeformed reference state, which may be difficult to achieve in practice. Moreover, it is not straightforward to judge from what point onwards one needs to go beyond the Young-Laplace equation. To overcome these limitations, a method based on stress fitting, which uses a local force balance method, is introduced here. One aspect of this new method is the use of the Chebyshev transform to numerically describe the contour shape of the drop interface. For all methods we present a detailed error analysis to evaluate if, and with what precision, surface material parameters can be extracted. Depending on the desired information, different ideal experimental conditions and most suitable methods are discussed, in addition to having a criterion to investigate if extra and anisotropic stresses matter.

Flow-Induced Shape Reconfiguration, Phase Separation, and Rupture of Bio-Inspired Vesicles

The structural integrity of red blood cells and drug delivery carriers through blood vessels is dependent upon their ability to adapt their shape during their transportation. Our goal is to examine the role of the composition of bio-inspired multicomponent and hairy vesicles on their shape during their transport through in a channel. Through the dissipative particle dynamics simulation technique, we apply Poiseuille flow in a cylindrical channel. We investigate the effect of flow conditions and concentration of key molecular components on the shape, phase separation, and structural integrity of the bio-inspired multicomponent and hairy vesicles. Our results show the Reynolds number and molecular composition of the vesicles impact their flow-induced deformation, phase separation on the outer monolayer due to the Marangoni effect, and rupture. The findings from this study could be used to enhance the design of drug delivery and tissue engineering systems.

Shape oscillations of particle-coated bubbles and directional particle expulsion

Bubbles stabilised by colloidal particles can find applications in advanced materials, catalysis and drug delivery. For applications in controlled release, it is desirable to remove the particles from the interface in a programmable fashion. We have previously shown that ultrasound waves excite volumetric oscillations of particle-coated bubbles, resulting in precisely timed particle expulsion due to interface compression on a ultrafast timescale [Poulichet et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 2015, 112, 5932]. We also observed shape oscillations, which were found to drive directional particle expulsion from the antinodes of the non-spherical deformation. In this paper we investigate the mechanisms leading to directional particle expulsion during shape oscillations of particle-coated bubbles driven by ultrasound at 40 kHz. We perform high-speed visualisation of the interface shape and of the particle distribution during ultrafast deformation at a rate of up to 10⁴ s^-1. The mode of shape oscillations is found to not depend on the bubble size, in contrast with what has been reported for uncoated bubbles. A decomposition of the non-spherical shape in spatial Fourier modes reveals that the interplay of different modes determines the locations of particle expulsion. The n-fold symmetry of the dominant mode does not always lead to desorption from all 2n antinodes, but only those where there is favourable alignment with the sub-dominant modes. Desorption from the antinodes of the shape oscillations is due to different, concurrent mechanisms. The radial acceleration of the interface at the antinodes can be up to 10⁵-10⁶ ms^-2, hence there is a contribution from the inertia of the particles localised at the antinodes. In addition, we found that particles migrate to the antinodes of the shape oscillation, thereby enhancing the contribution from the surface pressure in the monolayer.