Abstract A new double-chain surfactant molecule, sodium n -butyl( n -hexyl)phosphate (BHP), having an asymmetric molecular structure, has been synthesized. For anhydrous BHP in the solid state and the BHPH 2 O system in the lyotropic liquid crystalline and coagel states, the Raman scattering spectra arising from the accordion vibrational mode were studied in the temperature range −170 to 25°C. For anhydrous BHP, the GG form about the phosphodiester PO bonds was preferentially stabilized at lower temperature. In the coagel phase of the BHPH 2 O system, preferential stabilization of a specific conformation about the PO bonds occurred and which molecular form was stabilized was dependent on the water content: for the 8:2 BHPH 2 O sample in the coagel the GT form was stabilized, while for the 7:3 BHPH 2 O coagel sample the TT form was preferentially stabilized. The stabilization of such a specific conformation was also reflected in the higher-frequency region.