Gas Bubbles Stabilized by Janus Particles with Varying Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Surface Characteristics

Micrometer-sized polymer-grafted goldsilica (Au-SiO2) Janus particles were fabricated by vacuum evaporation followed by polymer grafting. The Janus particle diameter, diameter distribution, morphology, surface chemistry, and water wettability were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. The optical microscopy results showed that the polystyrene (PS)-grafted Au-SiO2 Janus particles exhibited monolayer adsorption at the airwater interface and could stabilize bubbles, preventing their coalescence for more than 1 month. The hydrophobic PS-grafted Au and hydrophilic SiO2 surfaces were exposed to the air and water phases, respectively. Bare Au-SiO2 and poly(2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl methacrylate) (PPFBEM)-grafted Au-SiO2 Janus particles could also stabilize bubbles for up to 2 weeks. By contrast, bare silica particles did not stabilize bubbles and were dispersed in water. The bubbles that formed in the PS-grafted Janus particle system were more stable than those formed in the bare Au-SiO2 Janus particles, PPFBEM-grafted Au-SiO2 Janus particles, and SiO2 particle systems because of the high adsorption energy of the PS-grafted particles at the air-water interface.