Dynamic light scattering studies of additive effects on the microstructure of aqueous gemini micelles

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements have been performed at 30 degrees C to see the effects of additives on the microstructure of gemini alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide) surfactants, (Br-, n-C16H33N+Me2-(CH2)s-Me2- N+n-C16H33, Br-, 16-s-16, where s = 4, 5, 6). In pure aqueous solutions, the hydrodynamic diameter, Dh, was found to increase rapidly with geminis in comparison to their monomeric counterpart cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (n-C16H33N+Me3, Br-, CTAB) on increasing surfactant concentration. The additives considered in the present study are n-alcohols (C4-C6OH) and n-hexylamine (C6NH2) on the micellar growth of 0.03 M 16-4-16 in the presence and absence of 0.001 M KBr. The presence of 0.001 M KBr or organic additives at lower concentrations singly or jointly has little effect on the micellar size. As the chain length of the additive increases, the size increases with the increase of additive concentration, the magnitude being substantial in the presence of 0.001 M KBr. However, for equal chain length additives (C6OH, C6NH2), the effect was greater for C6OH. In case of C6NH2, the value of Dh reaches to almost constancy when the concentration of the additive was increased. Increased effectiveness of additives in the presence of added salt (KBr) is discussed in light of electrostatic and hydrophobic forces operating in the solution, which are always responsible for growth processes.