Charged emulsions for site-specific deposition of matter at micro and nano scale

An emulsion comprising:

• a continuous phase,
• a discontinuous phase which is immiscible in the continuous phase, and
• a surfactant, the surfactant having a first part which is compatible with the continuous phase and a second part which is compatible with the discontinuous phase,
• wherein the continuous phase has a high volume resistivity, the discontinuous phase is electrically charged and comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of a bio-active agent, an activated nucleoside amidite (A, C, G or T), an activated oligonucleotide, a reagent or reactant including acids and bases, a blocking chemical, a de-blocking chemical, an organic or inorganic derivatisation chemical, a catalyst, a pharmaceutical, a dye, and a pigment, and the surfactant is selected to not significantly reduce the volume resistivity of the continuous phase.

An emulsion including

• a liquid continuous phase,
• a liquid discontinuous phase which is immiscible in the continuous phase, and
• a surfactant, the surfactant having a first part which is compatible with the continuous phase and a second part which is compatible with the discontinuous phase,
• wherein the continuous phase has a high volume resistivity, the discontinuous phase is electrically charged and the surfactant is selected to not significantly reduce the volume resistivity of the continuous phase.

A composition being an emulsion including:

• a continuous phase comprising an insulative liquid,
• a discontinuous phase comprising a non-aqueous solvent and a chemical de-protecting reagent in solution in the non-aqueous solvent, and
• a surfactant, the surfactant having a first part which is compatible with the continuous phase and a second part which includes a group which is compatible with the discontinuous phase, and
• wherein the continuous phase has a high volume resistivity and the discontinuous phase is electrically charged and the surfactant is selected to not significantly reduce the volume resistivity of the continuous phase.