Fig. 2: Schematic illustration of droplet instability due to Ostwald ripening and coalescence. | Communications Chemistry

Fig. 2: Schematic illustration of droplet instability due to Ostwald ripening and coalescence.

From: Self-assembly of stabilized droplets from liquid–liquid phase separation for higher-order structures and functions

Fig. 2

a Ostwald ripening: Large droplets grow at the expense of small unstable droplets. Over time, larger ripened droplets with reduced surface tension and area are observed. b Coalescence: Small droplets coalesce to minimize the surface tension. Over time, coalesced large droplets in a comparatively stable conformation with reduced surface tension and surface area are formed.

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