Abstract
We have studied how a surfactant (Aerosol OT or AOT) self-assembles in different polar (Water, Ethylene glycol, Formamide, N, N-Dimethylformamide) and non-polar (Isooctane) solvents. AOT is a widely used surfactant in biological and industrial applications. The lamellar phase of the AOT/water system is often used as a model of lipidic membrane. We investigated two surfactant volume fractions (0.2 and 0.6) with visual inspection, SAXS, rheology and electrical conductivity experiments. The results indicate that AOT self-assembles differently depending on solvent type and concentration. SAXS experiments show that the AOT/water systems display lamellar phases. In the other cases, only formamide displays a lamellar phase for φ = 0.6. The other solvents (and formamide at φ= 0.2) promote the self-assembly of AOT in other microstructures. In these cases, the SAXS spectra display correlation peaks consistent with a disordered array of cylindrical aggregates. The visual inspection, rheology and electrical conductivity results are consistent with the deduced self-assembled structures. We explain most of our results in terms of surfactant packing models and solvent properties.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
