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Updated: May 14, 2025
10:53
Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
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Cationic and Nonionic Surfactant Micelles in a Halogen-Free Carboxylic Acid-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent
Elly K Bathke1, Sylvain Prévost2, Fátima Herranz-Trillo3
1Centre for Analysis and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Naturvetarvägen 22, Lund 223 62, Sweden.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|May 13, 2025
Summary
Deep eutectic solvents (DES) offer green alternatives for surfactant self-assembly. This study explores how citric acid:glycerol mixtures influence cationic and nonionic surfactant micellization, revealing solvent-dependent structural changes.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are emerging as environmentally friendly solvents for various applications.
- Surfactant behavior, including solubility and self-assembly, is highly dependent on the specific DES components and their molar ratios.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for designing novel nanomaterials and drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate surfactant behavior in halogen-free citric acid:glycerol-based DES.
- To determine the effect of varying molar ratios on cationic surfactant micellization.
- To explore the micellization of nonionic ethylene oxide surfactants in these DES, particularly those insoluble in common choline chloride-based systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized citric acid:glycerol mixtures with varying molar ratios.
- Studied the micellization of cationic surfactants (C12TANO3, C16TANO3) and nonionic surfactants (Brij L23, Brij L4).
- Analyzed surfactant self-assembly and micellar structures in the absence of water.
Main Results:
- Cationic surfactants formed spherical micelles with stronger intermicellar interactions in citric acid:glycerol DES compared to choline chloride-based DES, suggesting reduced charge screening.
- Nonionic Brij L23 formed spherical micelles in a 1:2 citric acid:glycerol mixture.
- Nonionic Brij L4 exhibited less defined phase structures at similar concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Citric acid:glycerol DES provide a tunable environment for surfactant self-assembly.
- The choice of DES components and molar ratio significantly impacts micellization and intermicellar interactions.
- These findings advance the application of DES in areas like nanomaterial templating and drug delivery.
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