Understanding aggregation behavior of Tetronics®-ionic liquid interactions via cloud point, DLS, SANS, and
Jaykumar J Gami1, Mehul Khimani2, Sugam Kumar3
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Science & Technology for Advanced Studies & Research (ISTAR), The Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM) University, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388120, Gujarat, India.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|January 1, 2026
Summary
Ionic liquids disrupt Tetronics® micelles in water, altering their size and structure. This demicellization effect depends on the ionic liquid
Area of Science:
- Soft Matter Physics
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Tetronics® are non-ionic surfactants forming micelles in aqueous solutions.
- Ionic liquids (ILs) are tunable solvents with potential applications in modifying self-assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of various ionic liquids on the micellization behavior of Tetronics® T904 and T1304.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of IL-induced changes in micelle structure and stability.
Main Methods:
- Cloud point (CP) measurements
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
- Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations
Main Results:
- Ionic liquids increased Tetronics® cloud points and decreased micelle hydrodynamic diameter (Dh).
- SANS data revealed a reduction in micellar core radius upon IL addition.
- ILs induced demicellization, with effects modulated by IL head group, chain length, and counterion.
Conclusions:
- The structural characteristics of ionic liquids significantly influence Tetronics® self-assembly.
- ILs destabilize micellar structures, evidenced by DFT calculations showing a widened electronic energy gap.
- Findings have implications for designing responsive soft matter systems.
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