B–O Bond Reinforced Mechanical Stability of Alginate-Based Jammed Emulsion for Enhancing Pesticide Droplet Foliar Deposition

Pickering emulsions (PEs) make an important contribution to the development of stable, sustainable, biosafe, and controlled-release pesticide formulations due to their designable interfacial film structure and efficient encapsulation capability. However, the poor mechanical stability of PEs induces droplet splashing while impacting the superhydrophobic surfaces, which is not in line with the sustainable development strategy of agriculture. Herein, a cleaner production jammed emulsion was constructed using amphiphilic alginate-based derivatives (Ugi-Alg) and functionalized SiO2 (SN-CPA). As anticipated, the deposition, stability, persistence, and controlled-release of jammed emulsions have been improved, significantly reducing the need for repeated applications and the risk of environmental contamination. The impact dynamics calculations demonstrate the dominant role of the jamming interfacial film and sacrificial bond synergies in promoting high-speed droplet deposition. The transmission of the jammed emulsion decreased from 40.8% in an unjammed emulsion to 10.3%, and the mechanical stability was significantly improved. Additionally, after rainwater washing, the effective control rate of Botrytis cinerea reached approximately 87%. Notably, the pH-response of B–O bonds endows PEs with controlled-release capability. In addition, biosafety assessment indicated that jammed emulsions did not significantly affect the height of strawberry seedlings in the short term. Therefore, this review highlights the potential of jammed emulsions to improve pesticide utilization efficiency and increase biocompatibility, thus providing innovative strategies for sustainable agricultural design.