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Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles
Published on: March 2, 2020
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Responsive morphology transition from micelles to vesicles based on dynamic covalent surfactants
Pengxiang Wang1, Tongyu Zhu, Xiaoyu Hou
1Shandong Key Laboratory of Oilfield Chemistry, School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, P. R. China. hongbinyang@upc.edu.cn kangwanli@126.com.
Soft Matter
|March 1, 2019
Summary
This study presents a pH-responsive system using CTAB, HB, and OA that transitions between spherical micelles, wormlike micelles, and vesicles. This dynamic morphology change is reversible and triggered by pH adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dynamic covalent bonds enable stimuli-responsive systems through reversible molecular recognition.
- Surfactant-based systems are crucial for developing adaptable materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a pH-responsive morphology transition system using a mixture of cationic surfactant CTAB and nonamphiphilic precursors HB and OA.
- To investigate the reversible morphological changes in the CTAB/HB/OA system across a range of pH values.
Main Methods:
- Characterization using 1H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, rheology, and cryo-TEM.
- Observation of macroscopic appearance and phase behavior of CTAB/HB/OA solutions at varying pH.
Main Results:
- The CTAB/HB/OA system exhibited morphology transitions from spherical micelles to wormlike micelles and then to vesicles upon increasing pH.
- The system demonstrated reversible morphological alternations over multiple pH cycles.
- The observed transitions were attributed to pH-dependent ionization and formation of the anionic surfactant HB-OA-.
Conclusions:
- A novel pH-responsive morphology transition system based on CTAB, HB, and OA was successfully developed.
- The system allows for controlled and reversible transformations between spherical micelles, wormlike micelles, and vesicles by adjusting pH.
- This work offers insights into designing dynamic and adaptable supramolecular materials.
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