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Researchers led by a team at the University of Waterloo have developed a way to create tiny droplets of one liquid inside another liquid without mixing the two together.

Known as droplet templating, the technique enables the creation of a new class of nanoparticle-based soft materials with potential applications in carbon capture and wastewater treatment. The work is in the journal Materials Horizons.

The process involves assembling and jamming nanoparticles onto the surface of an aqueous-based droplet, forming a strong outer shell that keeps each droplet intact and distinct. These coated droplets can then be filled with a wide range of nanoparticles and dried to form lightweight, porous aerogel beads.

"This technique allows researchers to create hybrid aerogels by filling each droplet or bead with specific nanomaterials for different targeted uses," said Dr. Milad Kamkar, a professor in Waterloo's Department of Chemical Engineering.

"Researchers can now control not only the composition but also where each droplet is arranged within a liquid, essentially making the droplets and the resulting soft materials and aerogels programmable."

Kamkar added that the droplet templating process could have a significant impact on wastewater treatment. The aerogel beads could be loaded with different nanoparticles, each targeting specific contaminants, and strategically packed in a column to optimize treatment as wastewater flows through it.

In the fight against climate change, aerogel beads could be infused with metal-organic frameworks and other functional materials to capture carbon dioxide from the air. Potential applications also include sensors, electronics and the aerospace industry.

"This technique allows researchers to create layered, gradient or mixed aerogels, opening up new possibilities for designing multifunctional materials," said Kamkar, who is also director of the Multiscale Materials Design Lab. "Scientists can now control the precise location of components and nanomaterials."

Another potential use case for droplet templating is to shield against electromagnetic waves, which can interfere with sensitive equipment. Aerogel beads filled with magnetic and conductive nanomaterials could be strategically placed in buildings like hospitals to protect patients and equipment from electromagnetic interference.

"In the modern world, we're constantly surrounded by electromagnetic waves from electronics such as cell phones, laptops and Wi-Fi, which can negatively affect the performance of sensitive equipment," Kamkar said.

"These waves can also cause serious health issues, such as cancer. Removing this invisible pollution from our environment is a big challenge, and these aerogel beads could help address it."