How do (fluorescent) surfactants affect particle-stabilized emulsions?

Abstract

We present the first confocal-microscopy study of synergistic effects in emulsions stabilized by both colloidal particles and a common fluorescent dye that acts as a surfactant. In situ microscopic imaging reveals surfactant adsorption onto the liquid–liquid interface and onto the colloidal particles, which changes the interfacial tension and the particle contact angle. This leads to emulsions that are more stable, more polydisperse and can incorporate more of the dispersed phase.