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The researchers found that it took up to 50 percent more energy to dislodge the particles from the liquid-liquid interface for the smallest particle sizes. However as the radius of the particles increased this deviation from the standard model gradually faded out.

The researchers, Dr ir Stefan A. F. Bon and Dr David L. Cheung, believe that previous models failed to take into account the action of "capillary waves" in their depiction of the nanoparticles behaviour at the liquid to liquid interfaces.

Dr ir Stefan A. F. Bon said

" This new understanding on the nano-scale gives us much more flexibility in the design of everything from high-tech composite materials, to the use of quantum dots, cell biochemistry, and the manufacture of new "armored" polymer paint particles."

The researchers are now working on ways to build on this newly found natural stickiness of nanoparticles by designing polymer nanoparticles with opposing hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces that will bind even more strongly at oil/water liquid interfaces.

The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

For further information please contact:

Dr Stefan Bon, Associate Professor of Polymer Chemistry ,
Department of Chemistry. University of Warwick
Tel: 024 7657 4009 Email: S.Bon@warwick.ac.uk

Or

David L. Cheung, Department of Chemistry & Centre for Scientific Computing,
University of Warwick, Tel: 024 76522261, david.cheung@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager, Communications Office, University of Warwick,
Tel: 024 76 523708 or 07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

PR11 PJD 16th February 2009