View in EDS

Light-switchable emulsion control and phase transfer enabled by a morpholine-functionalised azobenzene surfactant.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Light-switchable emulsion control and phase transfer enabled by a morpholine-functionalised azobenzene surfactant.
Authors: Xue, Hongyan1 (AUTHOR), Feng, Jiaming1 (AUTHOR), Su, Biquan1 (AUTHOR) subq@mail.lzjtu.cn, Wang, Zhihang1,2 (AUTHOR) z.wang@derby.ac.uk, Wang, Nong1 (AUTHOR) wangnong07@163.com
Source: Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects. Jun2026, Vol. 738, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Emulsions, Photoisomerization, Surface active agents, Stabilizing agents, Microemulsions, Phase partition
Abstract: Surfactants are widely used to stabilise emulsions across chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental processes, yet conventional systems often lack controllability once formed. Smart surfactants capable of reversible emulsification and demulsification therefore offer a promising route toward adaptive formulations, especially when activated by non-invasive light stimuli. In this study, a morpholine-functionalised, photoswitchable azobenzene surfactant (MBAB) was synthesised to enable controllable reversible emulsion through trans – cis photoisomerisation. Using MBAB, a stable, reversible oil-in-water emulsion (MBAB/CTAB/n-hexane/water) was constructed, exhibiting repeatable demulsification and re-emulsification under alternating ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. Kinetically, the hydrophilicity of morpholine ring enhances interfacial hydration, resulting in robuster interfacial membrane and slower photoresponsive behaviour compared with linear alkyl analogues. Beyond demulsification and re-emulsification function, a reversible phase-transfer emulsion system (MBAB/n-octanol/water) was also established, in which UV-induced trans – cis isomerisation increases MBAB's polarity, driving its migration from the n-octanol phase into water, with visible light restoring the original phase distribution. Both systems display excellent cycling stability, maintaining performance over at least ten switching cycles without significant loss of efficiency. Overall, this work provides an effective strategy for designing reversible photoresponsive surfactants and light-switchable emulsions, offering new opportunities for studying stimulus-responsive interfacial assembly and enabling intelligent separation and controlled-release technologies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 192149113
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Light-switchable emulsion control and phase transfer enabled by a morpholine-functionalised azobenzene surfactant.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xue%2C+Hongyan%22">Xue, Hongyan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Jiaming%22">Feng, Jiaming</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Su%2C+Biquan%22">Su, Biquan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> subq@mail.lzjtu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Zhihang%22">Wang, Zhihang</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> z.wang@derby.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Nong%22">Wang, Nong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> wangnong07@163.com</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Colloids+%26+Surfaces+A%3A+Physicochemical+%26+Engineering+Aspects%22">Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 738, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emulsions%22">Emulsions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Photoisomerization%22">Photoisomerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surface+active+agents%22">Surface active agents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stabilizing+agents%22">Stabilizing agents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microemulsions%22">Microemulsions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phase+partition%22">Phase partition</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Surfactants are widely used to stabilise emulsions across chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental processes, yet conventional systems often lack controllability once formed. Smart surfactants capable of reversible emulsification and demulsification therefore offer a promising route toward adaptive formulations, especially when activated by non-invasive light stimuli. In this study, a morpholine-functionalised, photoswitchable azobenzene surfactant (MBAB) was synthesised to enable controllable reversible emulsion through trans – cis photoisomerisation. Using MBAB, a stable, reversible oil-in-water emulsion (MBAB/CTAB/n-hexane/water) was constructed, exhibiting repeatable demulsification and re-emulsification under alternating ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. Kinetically, the hydrophilicity of morpholine ring enhances interfacial hydration, resulting in robuster interfacial membrane and slower photoresponsive behaviour compared with linear alkyl analogues. Beyond demulsification and re-emulsification function, a reversible phase-transfer emulsion system (MBAB/n-octanol/water) was also established, in which UV-induced trans – cis isomerisation increases MBAB's polarity, driving its migration from the n-octanol phase into water, with visible light restoring the original phase distribution. Both systems display excellent cycling stability, maintaining performance over at least ten switching cycles without significant loss of efficiency. Overall, this work provides an effective strategy for designing reversible photoresponsive surfactants and light-switchable emulsions, offering new opportunities for studying stimulus-responsive interfacial assembly and enabling intelligent separation and controlled-release technologies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=192149113
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139938
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Emulsions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Photoisomerization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surface active agents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stabilizing agents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microemulsions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phase partition
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Light-switchable emulsion control and phase transfer enabled by a morpholine-functionalised azobenzene surfactant.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Xue, Hongyan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Feng, Jiaming
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Su, Biquan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Zhihang
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Nong
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 05
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 09277757
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 738
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Colloids & Surfaces A: Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects
              Type: main
ResultId 1