Reconfigurable Liquid Droplet Interface Bilayer*

Recent research has fervently explored droplet networks for their potential in compartmentalizing reactions and advancing our understanding of biological processes. However, unlike lipid bilayers, colloidal stabilization offers less cargo selectivity and limited control over pore size during transport. Here, we report that reconfigurable aqueous droplets decorated with a jammed layer of colloidal nanoparticles can be interconnected by micro- and even nano-size channels resulting from the nanoparticle interfacial packing defects. By finely tuning the surface coverage and binding energy of nanoparticles at the interface, we can control the size of the connecting channels, ranging from millimeters to nanometers, which plays a crucial role in determining the rate of mass transport between droplets. Additionally, for nanoscale channels, the selective transport of particles or ions depends on their charge and size. The interface of these droplets remains intact during and after transport, and can be readily separated. We are proposing a new method to establish well-controlled interconnected channels between the colloidal-decorated droplets with high selectivity, with potential applications for compartmentalized reactions, chemical delivery, and materials science.