Textured Microcapsules though Crystallization

Samuel R. Wilson-Whitford, Ross W. Jaggers, Brooke W. Longbottom, Matt K. Donald, Guy J. Clarkson, Stefan A. F. Bon*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This work demonstrates the fabrication of surface-textured microcapsules formed from emulsion droplets, which are stabilized by an interlocking mesh of needle-like crystals. Crystals of the small-organic-compound decane-1,10-bis(cyclohexyl carbamate) are formed within the geometric confinement of the droplets, through precipitation from a binary-solvent-dispersed phase. This binary mixture consists of a volatile solvent and nonvolatile carrier oil. Crystallization is facilitated upon supersaturation due to evaporation of the volatile solvent. Microcapsule diameter can be easily tuned using microfluidics. This approach also proves to be scalable when using conventional mixers, yielding spikey microcapsules with diameters in the range of 10–50 μm. It is highlighted that the capsule shape can be molded and arrested by jamming using recrystallization in geometric confinement. Moreover, it is shown that these textured microcapsules show a promising enhanced deposition onto a range of fabric fibers.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5887-5894
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume13
Issue number4
Early online date22 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Feb 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Textured Microcapsules though Crystallization'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this