Effect of amide bonds on the self-assembly of gemini surfactants

This study provides an insight into the micellar aggregation properties in aqueous solutions of various gemini surfactants bearing one or more amide groups at the side chains and/or in the spacer by conductivity and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies. The amide functionality was found to enhance the surfactant aggregation properties as compared to the surfactants having no amide bond. Furthermore, the aggregation properties of the gemini surfactants bearing amide groups were found to strongly depend on the position and number of amide bonds. With the increase in the number of amide bonds, the aggregation number (N) and the size of the micelles increased. Additionally, the size and shape of the micelles were also found to depend both on the hydrocarbon chain length and the spacer chain length. It was also found that the aggregation number and the size of the micelles increased with an increase in concentration and decreased with an increase in temperature. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) values of the gemini surfactants obtained by a conductometric method were found to vary greatly with variation in the hydrocarbon chain.