Title

Structural evolution in cationic micelles upon incorporation of a polar organic dopant

Authors

Mohit Singh, Tulane University
Christy Ford, Tulane University
Vivek Agarwal, University of Rhode Island
Gerhard Fritz, Universität Graz, Institut für Chemie
Arijit Bose, University of Rhode Island
Vijay T. John, Tulane University
Gary L. McPherson, Tulane University

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

11-9-2004

Abstract

Micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), when doped with increasing levels of 4-ethylphenol, show microstructural transitions from spherical micelles to elongated wormlike micelles, disks, and subsequently to globular and then to tubular vesicles. Wormlike micelles are observed at a dopant-to-CTAB molar ratio of 1:3. At higher dopant ratios (1:1), globular vesicles are observed which transition to tubular vesicles when the dopant becomes the predominant species at a ratio of 3:1. These transitions are reflected in small-angle neutron scattering analysis and, interestingly, can be directly observed through cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The para-substituted phenol is interfacially active and modulates interfacial curvature of the micelles. The observations of microstructure modifications have relevance to the synthesis of mesoporous materials using CTAB as the template.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Langmuir

Volume

20

Issue

23

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Singh, Mohit, Christy Ford, Vivek Agarwal, Gerhard Fritz, Arijit Bose, Vijay T. John, and Gary L. McPherson. "Structural evolution in cationic micelles upon incorporation of a polar organic dopant." Langmuir 20, 23 (2004): 9931-9937. doi: 10.1021/la048967u.