Temperature-sensitive soft microgels at interfaces: air–water <i>versus</i> oil–water

The formation of smart emulsions or foams whose stability can be controlled on-demand by switching external parameters is great interest for basic research and applications. An emerging group stabilizers are microgels, which nano- micro-sized, three-dimensional polymer networks that swollen a good solvent. In the last decades, influence various stimuli on two-dimensional phase behavior microgels at air- oil-water interfaces has been studied. However, impact top-phase itself barely considered. Here, we present data directly address microgel properties interfaces. dimensions pNIPAM measured after deposition from two interfaces, i.e., decane-water. While total in-plane size increases with increasing interfacial tension, portions fractions situated in aqueous not affected. We correlate area occupy to surface tensions allows estimate an elastic modulus. comparison nanoindentation measurements, observe larger modulus microgels. By combining compression, deposition, visualization, show monolayers altered, although have higher tension. A peer reviewed extended version this preprint electronic supplementary information found under S.~Bochenek, A.~Scotti, W.~Richtering, \textit{Soft Matter}, 2020, DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01774d.