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

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 = P^V, Si^IV, B^III; n = 3, 4, 5). Among the unusual self-assembled structures, we report a new type of micelle with dumbbell morphology.

SUBMITTER: Klaiber A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5235243 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature