Maximizing Headgroup Repulsion: Hybrid Surfactants with Ultrahighly Charged Inorganic Heads and Their Unusual Self-Assembly

Langmuir. 2016 Oct 25;32(42):10920-10927. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02661. Epub 2016 Oct 12.

Abstract

Nonequilibrium states of matter are arousing huge interest because of the outstanding possibilities to generate unprecedented structures with novel properties. Self-organizing soft matter is the ideal object of study as it unifies periodic order and high dynamics. Compared to settled systems, it becomes vital to realize more complex interaction patterns. A promising and intricate approach is implementing controlled balance between attractive and repulsive forces. We try to answer a fundamental question in surfactant science: How are processes like lyotropic liquid crystals and micellization affected, when headgroup charge becomes so large that repulsive interactions are inevitable? A particular challenge is that size and shape of the surfactant must not change. We could realize the latter by means of new hybrid surfactants with a heteropolyanion head [EW11O39]n- (E = PV, SiIV, BIII; n = 3, 4, 5). Among the unusual self-assembled structures, we report a new type of micelle with dumbbell morphology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't