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Related Concept Videos

Micelles01:30

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
Intermolecular Forces03:13

Intermolecular Forces

Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion...
Colloids03:22

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
The Colloidal State01:29

The Colloidal State

The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...
Surface Active Agents01:27

Surface Active Agents

Surfactants, named for their behavior at interfaces, positively adsorb at the interfaces of two phases, reducing interfacial tension. Their versatility as emulsifiers, detergents, and foaming agents stems from this ability. Surfactants, often termed amphiphiles, share the property of amphipathy, with molecules having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions. The hydrophilic part is called the head, and the hydrophobic part, including an elongated alkyl substituent, forms the tail.Surfactants...
Solubility03:00

Solubility

Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
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).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
06:44

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding

Published on: March 24, 2018

Pluronic micelle shuttle between water and an ionic liquid.

Zhifeng Bai1, Timothy P Lodge

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|February 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a micelle shuttle using Pluronic block copolymer (P123) for efficient transport between water and ionic liquids. This reversible system enables cargo delivery and separations in biphasic systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

  • Ionic liquids offer unique solvent properties but present challenges in biphasic systems.
  • Block copolymers are known for self-assembly into nanostructures like micelles.
  • Developing efficient transport mechanisms in biphasic systems is crucial for various chemical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a micelle shuttle system for effective cargo transport between water and hydrophobic ionic liquids.
  • To investigate the self-assembly and phase transfer behavior of Pluronic block copolymer (P123) in a biphasic system.
  • To explore the application of this micelle shuttle for delivery, separation, and extraction processes.

Main Methods:

  • Self-assembly of poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) (P123) block copolymer into micelles in water and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate.
  • Characterization of micelle formation using dynamic light scattering.
  • Analysis of micelle transfer between phases using temperature stimuli and (1)H NMR spectroscopy.
  • Demonstration of cargo transport (hydrophobic dyes, polymers) using the micelle nanocarriers.

Main Results:

  • P123 self-assembles into micelles in both aqueous and ionic liquid phases, with PEO forming the corona and PPO forming the core.
  • Micelles exhibit spontaneous, reversible, and repeatable transfer between water and the ionic liquid upon temperature change.
  • (1)H NMR confirmed quantitative transfer of micelles between phases.
  • The micelle nanocarriers successfully facilitated reversible transport of hydrophobic dyes and extraction of an ionic liquid-phobic polymer.

Conclusions:

  • An effective and inexpensive micelle shuttle system was demonstrated using P123 block copolymer for biphasic water-ionic liquid systems.
  • The reversible temperature-triggered micelle transfer enables efficient cargo delivery, separations, and extraction.
  • This approach offers a versatile platform for applications in synthesis, catalysis, and separations involving ionic liquids.