Nonequilibrium surfactant partitioning into microdroplets generates local phase inversion conditions and interfacial instability

Key Points

• This research aims to explore how surfactant partitioning affects the stability of oil-in-water droplets.
• Examined the behavior of oil-in-water droplets under varying surfactant levels.
• Analyzed conditions leading to interfacial instability and phase inversion.
• Investigated the effects of surfactant distribution on droplet dissociation.
• Oil-in-water droplets exhibited interfacial instability under specific surfactant conditions.
• Phase inversion occurred, indicating shifts in droplet stability due to surfactant partitioning.