Thermodynamics and Micellar Properties of Tetradecyltrimethylammonium Bromide in Formamide–Water Mixtures

Abstract

The effect of formamide on the micellization of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide has been investigated by conductance and fluorescence probe experiments. The critical micelle concentration and the degree of counterion dissociation of micelles were obtained from conductance measurements in the temperature range of 20 to 40°C. It was found that these two parameters increase with both temperature and formamide content in the solvent system. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization were estimated using the equilibrium model of micelle formation. The standard free energy of micellization was found to be negative in all cases and becomes less negative as the formamide content in the mixed solvent increases, but it is roughly independent of temperature. Although the entropic contribution was found to be larger than the enthalpy one, in particular at lower temperatures, an enthalpy–entropy compensation effect was observed for all systems. Micellar aggregation numbers were determined by the static quenching method, using pyrene as a probe and cetylpyridinium chloride as a quencher. The observed decrease in the micelle aggregation number, which is controlled by the increase in the surface area per headgroup, was attributed to an enhanced solvation in formamide rich solvent mixtures. Changes in the pyrene 1:3 ratio index, indicating a more polar environment, are consistent with an increased micellar solvation. Fluorescence polarization of both coumarin 6 and fluorescein are indicative of a decrease in microviscosity with cosolvent addition. The data on fluorescence anisotropy of coumarin 6 were analyzed using the wobbling in cone model. Data indicated the formation of micelles with a less ordered structure as the formamide increases in the solvent system.