Synthesis and properties of ionic liquid-type Gemini imidazolium surfactants

A series of ionic liquid-type Gemini imidazolium surfactants with four-methylene spacer groups were synthesized ([C(n)-4-C(n)im]Br(2), n=10, 12, 14). The surface activity and thermodynamic properties of micellization between the Gemini imidazolium surfactants and their corresponding monomers ([C(n)mim]Br, n=10, 12, 14) were compared by means of surface tension and electrical conductivity measurements. The values of cmc, gamma(cmc), pc(20), Gamma(max), and A(min) derived from surface tension measurement at 25 degrees C suggest that the surface activity of [C(n)-4-C(n)im]Br(2) is higher than that of [C(n)mim]Br. While the thermodynamic parameters of micellization (DeltaG(m)(o), DeltaH(m)(o), DeltaS(m)(o)) derived from electrical conductivity indicate that the micellization of [C(n)-4-C(n)im]Br(2) is entropy-driven, aggregation of [C(n)mim]Br is entropy-driven at low temperature but enthalpy-driven at high temperature. Finally, the activation energy of conductance (E(a)) that is associated with the effective charge is also obtained for [C(n)-4-C(n)im]Br(2) and it is constant below the cmc, but it increases above the cmc.