Responsive complex emulsions are increasingly of interest for use in diagnostics, optics, and chemical sensing due to their tunable chemical and physical properties. A significant limitation of such fluid droplets for long-term applications is their eventual breakdown over time by pathways such as coalescence and Ostwald ripening that lead to variations in droplet size and composition. Elucidating approaches by which to enhance droplet stability while simultaneously maintaining their reconfigurability and responsive character is therefore important. This report explores the behavior of reconfigurable hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon droplets in water that are encapsulated in a polyelectrolyte hydrogel shell. Surfactant-free gelation pathways are investigated to form oil-core calcium alginate capsules, and the effects of the hydrogel capsule structure on droplet stability and reconfigurability in the presence of surfactants are characterized.

中文翻译：

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聚电解质水凝胶胶囊作为可重构复合乳液的稳定剂†

响应性复合乳液由于其可调节的化学和物理特性，越来越多地用于诊断，光学和化学传感领域。对于长期应用而言，此类液滴的显着局限性是它们最终会随着时间的流逝而分解，例如聚结和奥斯特瓦尔德熟化等途径，这些途径会导致液滴尺寸和组成发生变化。因此，阐明在增强液滴稳定性的同时保持其可重构性和响应特性的方法很重要。该报告探讨了封装在聚电解质水凝胶壳中的水中可重构碳氢化合物和碳氟化合物液滴的行为。研究了无表面活性剂的凝胶化途径，以形成油核海藻酸钙胶囊，