Controllable formation of ionic liquid micro- and nanoparticles via a melt-emulsion-quench approach.
We present a facile, scalable, and general method for the size-variable generation of monodispersed, near-spherical solid-state (frozen) ionic liquid nanoparticles based on a novel melt-emulsion-quench approach. Simple manipulation of the internal templating droplets within oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions also permits the formation of well-defined microspheres. This simple and rapid preparation, requiring neither specialized equipment nor harsh conditions, suggests a wealth of potential for these designer nanomaterials within the biomedical, materials, and analytical communities.
Tesfai
Aaron
A
Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
El-Zahab
Bilal
B
Bwambok
David K
DK
Baker
Gary A
GA
Fakayode
Sayo O
SO
Lowry
Mark
M
Warner
Isiah M
IM
D004655:Emulsions; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008863:Microspheres; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044367:Phase Transition
D004655:Emulsions; D052578:Ionic Liquids