High Internal Phase Emulsions Stabilized Solely by Microgel Particles

Abstract

Smart microgels: High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with a volume fraction up to 0.9 are prepared using soft microgel particles as stabilizer. Adsorption of microgels at the interface can effectively hinder droplet coalescence, and the excess particles form a gel in the continuous phase to inhibit creaming and phase inversion. Drying such HIPEs in air leads to porous materials.