Investigating the Formation Mechanisms of Surfactant Stabilised Emulsions Using SANS

Emulsions formed under ultrasonic agitation are widely used in both industrial and academic settings, yet their structural evolution during formation remains poorly understood. In this proposal, we aim to establish a robust reference dataset for three well-characterised surfactant-stabilised emulsions using Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) on SANS2D. The emulsion systems include SDS-stabilised hexadecane-in-water, SDS-stabilised dodecane-in-water, and STS-stabilised hexadecane-in-water emulsions, each with mean droplet sizes in the 85–142 nm range. These model systems will be studied across multiple contrast conditions and over extended time periods (0–24 hours) to quantify both internal structure and long-term stability. The measurements will directly inform the development and commissioning of a novel in-situ ultrasound sample environment currently under construction at ISIS. By comparing results with prior studies performed at NCNR and leveraging SANS2D’s broad Q-range, this work will provide key insights into reproducibility, surfactant distribution, and emulsion dynamics—paving the way for real-time investigations under ultrasonic conditions in future beamtime campaigns.