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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
Published on: April 22, 2016
Nanostructures of colloidal complexes formed in oppositely charged polyelectrolyte/surfactant dilute aqueous
S Trabelsi1, S Guillot, H Ritacco
1Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 510, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
Abstract:
Small-angle neutron scattering measurements were performed on dilute solutions of carboxymethylcellulose/DTAB complexes in water in order to determine their size, shape and internal structures. At low polymer content, the complexes are spherical, rather monodisperse and probably made of polymer chains intercalated between surfactant micelles. Moreover, we show that these micelles have a similar cubic arrangement than found in polymer/surfactant precipitates formed at higher surfactant concentrations. At larger polymer content, in the semi-dilute polyelectrolyte regime, the complexes are larger, softer and polydisperse. However, they possess a similar internal structure in both regimes. Carboxymethylcellulose/CTAB complexes are also large, soft and polydisperse but do not seem to exhibit well-defined internal structures.
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A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
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