Surface adsorption and aggregate formation of cationic gemini surfactant and long-chain alcohol mixtures

We measured the surface tension of aqueous solutions of octanol-butandiyl-1,4-bis(decyldimethylammonium bromide) using the drop-volume technique at 298.15 K under atmospheric pressure as a function of the total molality and bulk composition. The results of the surface tension measurements, which were analyzed by originally developed thermodynamic equations, suggested that octanol molecules filled the spaces among the hydrophobic chains of gemini surfactants and formed a densely packed monolayer with them in the adsorbed film. The turbidity of aqueous solutions was also measured to construct the concentration-composition diagram with the surface tension data. A transmission electron microscope was used to determine the aggregate morphology in the aqueous solutions. Disc-like micelle and microemulsion regions were found on the diagram prior to the spherical micelle formation; nevertheless, the butandiyl-1,4-bis(decyldimethylammonium bromide) itself formed only spherical (or small ellipsoid) micelles in the concentration range measured. We also studied the relationship between synergism and molecular packing in the aggregates.