Preparation of the Narrow-dispersed Microcapsules containing Electronic Ink : Influence of Surfactant and Stirring Rate

Using gelatin and acacia as wall and electronic ink as core substance, microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation to fabricate a flexible electronic paper display. In order to obtain the microcapsules in a narrow dispersed distribution, we focus on the interfacial tension between the hydrophobic electrophoretic ink and an aqueous polyelectrolyte solution, through controlling sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) concentration and stirring rate. The existence of anionic surfactant of SDS not only decreases the droplet diameters, but also reduces the diameter size distribution. And, as the stirring rate is increased, the average size of microcapsule is also decreased.