Graphitic Carbon Nitride Stabilizers Meet Microfluidics: From Stable Emulsions to Photoinduced Synthesis of Hollow Polymer Spheres

Naresh Yandrapalli, Tom Robinson*, Markus Antonietti, Baris Kumru*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has been utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst, but is usually not very well dispersible. The amphiphilic character of g-CN can be altered by surface modifications of g-CN nanopowders. Introducing hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity is a promising avenue for producing advanced emulsion systems. In this study, a special surface-modified g-CN is used to form stable Pickering emulsions. Using a PDMS-based microfluidic device designed for stable production of both single and double emulsions, it is shown that surface-modified g-CNs allow the manufacture of unconventionally stable and precise Pickering emulsions. Shell thickness of the double emulsions is varied to emphasize the robustness of the device and also to demonstrate the extraordinary stabilization brought by the surface-modified carbon nitride used in this study. Due to the electrostatic stabilization also in the oil phase, double emulsions are centered. Finally, when produced from polymerizable styrene, hollow polymer microparticles are formed with precise and tunable sizes, where g-CN is utilized as the only stabilizer and photoinitiator.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2001180
JournalSmall
Volume16
Issue number32
Early online date2 Jul 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2020

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • carbon nitrides
  • double emulsions
  • hollow spheres
  • microfluidics
  • Pickering emulsions

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