Collodial particles at a range of fluid-fluid particles

The study of solid particles residing at fluid-fluid interfaces has become an established area in surface and colloid science recently experiencing a renaissance since around 2000. Particles at interfaces arise in many industrial products and processes like anti-foam formulations, crude oil emulsions, aerated foodstuffs and flotation. Although they act in many ways like traditional surfactant molecules, they offer distinct advantages also and the area is now multi-disciplinary involving research in the fundamental science and potential applications. In this Feature Article, a flavour of some of this interest is given based on recent work from our own group and includes the behaviour of particles at oil-water, air-water, oil-oil, air-oil and water-water interfaces. The materials capable of being prepared by assembling various kinds of particles at fluid interfaces include particle-stabilised emulsions, particle-stabilised aqueous and oil foams, dry liquids, liquid marbles and powdered emulsions