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We studied the effects of the spacer chain length of amino acid-based gemini surfactants on the formation of wormlike micelles in aqueous solutions. The surfactants used were synthesized by reacting dodecanoylglutamic acid anhydride with diamine compounds (ethylenediamine, pentanediamine, and octanediamine), and were abbreviated as 12-GsG-12 (s: the spacer chain length of 2, 5, and 8 methylene units). These surfactants yielded viscoelastic wormlike micellar solutions at pH 9 upon mixing with a cationic monomeric surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB). We found that the rheological behavior was strongly dependent on the spacer chain length and HTAB concentration. When the shortest spacer chain analogue (12-G2G-12) was used, an increased HTAB concentration resulted in the following structural transformations of the micelles: (i) spherical or rodlike micelles; (ii) anionic wormlike micelles exhibiting a transient network structure; (iii) anionic wormlike micelles with a micellar branching or interconnected structure; and (iv) cationic wormlike micelles. Similarly, when the middle spacer chain analogue (12-G5G-12) was used, a structural transformation from anionic to cationic wormlike micelles occurs; however, molecular aggregates with a lower positive curvature were also formed in this transition region. When the longest spacer analogue (12-G8G-12) was used, the formation of cation-rich molecular aggregates was not observed. These transition behaviors were attributed to the packing geometry of the gemini surfactants with HTAB. Additionally, as the spacer chain length increased, the zero-shear viscosity in the anionic wormlike micellar region decreased, suggesting limited one-dimensional micellar growth of spherical, rodlike, or anionic wormlike micelles.

The principles, occurrence, structure and properties of worm-like micellar solutions in nonionic surfactant systems is reviewed, with focus in certain experimental methods used to characterize such soft nanostructured systems. Formulation plays a critical role in the design of worm-like micellar systems and derived viscoelastic networks. Micellar growth in one dimension, and hence formation of worm-like aggregates, is favoured by an increase in the average surfactant molecular packing parameter. Such an increase can be induced by addition of cosurfactant or amphiphilic oil that tends to penetrate in the surfactant palisade layer and reduce the specific surface area. On the other hand, long and bulky oils prone to be solubilized in the micellar core, cause a rod-sphere transition and therefore a decrease in viscosity. Salts have a small effect on the behaviour of nonionic worm-like micelles, contrary to what is found for ionic surfactant systems. The effect of raising temperature on worm-like micellar solutions is the result of a balance between the dehydration of the surfactant head groups, which favors elongation, the kinetics of micellar disruption and the formation of structures with nearly zero curvature. Therefore, a viscosity maximum as a function of temperature is found in many systems. Reverse worm-like micelles with a hydrophilic core can also be formed in organic solvents, even in the absence of ionic components or water. Worm-like micelles are useful as templates for the formation of ordered mesoporous oxides. The interaction of micelles with silica species results in the formation of silica-surfactant complexes that later precipitate as hexagonal phase via a cooperative mechanism.

Recently, we have reported a new cinnamic acid-type photocleavable surfactant, C4-C-N-PEG9 that experiences a photocleavage through UV-induced cyclization in aqueous solution, yielding a coumarin derivative (7-butoxy-2H-chromen-2-one) and an aminated polyoxyethylene compound. Here, we have studied the effects of C4-C-N-PEG9 on the photorheological behavior of viscoelastic wormlike micelles formed by aqueous mixture of nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene phytosterol ether (PhyEO20) and tetraoxyethylene dodecyl ether (C12EO4). The 4.9 wt % PhyEO20/H2O + 2.4 wt % C12EO4 solution forms wormlike micelles, and its viscosity is ~10 Pa·s. We have found that the addition of C4-C-N-PEG9 into this viscous, non-Newtonian fluid system decreases the viscosity. Viscosity decreased in parallel to the C4-C-N-PEG9 concentration reaching ~0.003 Pa·s at 2.5 wt % of C4-C-N-PEG9. However, viscosity of the C4-C-N-PEG9 incorporated system increased significantly (~200 times at 1.5 wt % of C4-C-N-PEG9 system) upon UV irradiation. Small-Angle X-ray scattering studies have shown that addition of C4-C-N-PEG9 favors wormlike-to-sphere type transition in the micellar structure. However, UV irradiation in the C4-C-N-PEG9 incorporated system causes one-dimensional micellar growth. Since C4-C-N-PEG9 has relatively bigger headgroup size compared to the C12EO4, addition of C4-C-N-PEG9 into wormlike micelles reduces the critical packing parameter resulting in the formation of spherical aggregates. UV irradiation induced one-dimensional micellar growth is caused due to photocleavage of the C4-C-N-PEG9 into a less surface-active coumarin derivative and an aminated polyoxyethylene compound, as confirmed by UV-vis spectrometry and HPLC measurements. The hydrophobic coumarin derivative formed after cleavage of C4-C-N-PEG9 goes to the micellar core and is responsible for decreasing the viscosity. However, the hydrophilic aminated polyoxyethylene prefers to reside at the vicinity of headgroup of PhyEO20 reducing the interhead repulsion, increasing the critical packing parameter and the viscosity as well.

We report shape, size, and internal cross-sectional structure of diglycerol monomyristate (C₁₄G₂) reverse micelles in n-hexadecane near the critical point using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Pair-distance distribution function, p(r), which gives structural information in real-space, was obtained by indirect Fourier transformation (IFT) method. The p(r) showed a clear picture of rodlike micelles at higher temperatures well above the critical point (micellar solution phase separates into two immiscible liquids at ~ 48°C). At a fixed surfactant concentration (5% C₁₄G₂), decrease in temperature increases the micellar size monotonously and surprisingly shape of the p(r) curve at 50°C; close to the critical point, mimics the shape of the two dimensional disk-like micelles indicating the onset of critical fluctuations (attractive interactions among rodlike micelles forming a weak network). A similar behavior has been observed with normal micelles in aqueous system near the critical point. When the system is heated to 60°C, shape of the p(r) curve regains rodlike structure. At fixed temperature of 60°C, increase in C₁₄G₂ concentration induced one dimensional micellar growth. Maximum length of micelles increases from ca. 23.5 to 46.0 nm upon increasing concentration from 1 to 12% keeping cross section diameter apparently unchanged at ca. 4.0 nm.

Aqueous binary phase behavior of a peptide-based gemini amphiphile with glutamic acid and lysine as spacer group, acylglutamyllysilacylglutamate (m-GLG-m where m = 12, 14, and 16), has been reported over a wide range of concentration and temperature. Lauroylglutamyllysillauroylglutamate, 12-GLG-12, self-assembles into spherical micelles above critical micelle concentration (CMC). The micellar region extends up to 32 wt %, and an ordering of spherical micelles into micellar cubic phase, I(1), takes place at 33 wt % at 25 °C. The phase transition, I(1) - hexagonal liquid crystal, (H(1)) - lamellar liquid crystal, (L(α)) has been observed with further increase in concentration; moreover, mixed phases are also observed between the pure liquid crystal domains. Similar phases were observed with 16-GLG-16 above 50 °C (Krafft temperature). The partial ternary phase behavior shows that the micellar solutions of m-GLG-m can solubilize a large amount of cationic amphiphile, alkyltrimethylammonium bromide, C(n)TAB, (where n = 14 (TTAB) and 16 (CTAB)) at 25 °C. An addition of C(n)TAB to the aqueous solutions of 16-GLG-16 in a dilute region forms a transparent solution of viscoelastic wormlike micelles at very low concentration (0.25 wt %) even at ambient condition. A mixture of oppositely charged amphiphiles, m-GLG-m and C(n)TAB, exhibits synergism as a result the amphiphile layer curvature, becomes less positive, and favors the transition from sphere to rod to transient networks (wormlike micelles). The gemini amphiphile, 16-GLG-16, forms wormlike micelles at relatively low concentrations compared to others reported so far. Viscosity increases by six orders of magnitude compared to that of pure solvent. The hydrophobic chain length of m-GLG-m and coamphiphile affects the rheology; the maximum viscosity achieved with 16-GLG-16/H(2)O/CTAB is higher than that of 14-GLG-14/H(2)O/CTAB, 12-GLG-12/H(2)O/CTAB, and 16-GLG-16/H(2)O/TTAB systems. These temperature-sensitive systems exhibited viscoelastic behavior described by the Maxwell mechanical model with a single stress relaxation mode.

This paper describes a facile route to the shape, size, and structure control of reversed micelles by surfactant and solvent molecular architecture and water addition. Nonionic reverse micellar size is found to increase with increase in hydrophilic headgroup size of surfactant, whose scheme is understood in terms of decrease in the critical packing parameter (cpp). On the other hand, an opposite trend is observed with increase in lipophilicity of the surfactant. This is caused by the repulsive excluded volume interactions, which increases with the volume of lipophilic moiety of surfactant; as a result, the micelle interface tends to become more curved and micelles shrink. Solvent molecular structure has played a crucial role; increasing hydrocarbon chain length of alkanes favored one dimensional micellar growth. We note that long chain oil has a poor penetration tendency to lipophilic tail of surfactant and decreases the cpp. Solvent polarity is also crucial; globular micelles are formed in short chain oil cyclohexane. We note that decreasing chain length of oil mimic the decrease in the headgroup size of surfactant; rod-to-sphere type transition in the micellar structure. Addition of trace water favors micellar growth; maximum dimension and micellar cross section increases with increase in water concentration. The sizes of the water incorporated reverse micelles (or w/o microemulsion) are much bigger than the empty micelles. Micellar structure was confirmed by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and supported by rheology.

The amino acid-based anionic surfactant, N-dodecanoylglutamic acid (designated as LAD), when neutralized with 2-aminoethanol (MEA), 2,2'-iminodiethanol (DEA), or 2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanol (TEA) forms globular type of micelles in aqueous system at 25 °C, and the viscosity of each solution is very close to that of pure water. Addition of cationic surfactants, e.g., tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) or hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), induced a sphere-to-rod transition, and the micelles grew axially, resulting in formation of viscoelastic wormlike micelles that could be described by a Maxwell model. The viscosity was ca. 5 orders of magnitude as large as that of water. The viscosity maximum was observed in zero-shear viscosity (η0) curves, and there was a phase separation to liquid crystal phase at higher cosurfactants concentration. The η0 curve shifted toward lower cosurfactant concentration, and the value of maximum viscosity (η0(max)) decreased by reducing lipophilic moiety of cosurfactant. Furthermore, the value of η0(max) decreased with decreasing the number of ethanol content per molecule of neutralizing agent. The η0 decays exponentially with the rise of temperature, following the Arrhenius type of behavior. However, addition of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) increases viscosity only slightly; viscoelastic wormlike micelles are not formed.

Using a small-angle X-ray scattering technique, shape and size, and internal structure of diglycerol polyisostearate nonionic surfactant micelles in nonpolar oil n-hexadecane (HD) were investigated at 25 degrees C. Furthermore, the effect of added water on the structure of host reverse micelles was also investigated. The scattering data were evaluated by the generalized indirect Fourier transformation (GIFT) method and model fittings. It was found that diglycerol polyisostearate (abbreviated as (iso-C18)nG2, where n=2-4 represent the number of isostearate chain per surfactant molecule) spontaneously form reverse micelles in HD at 25 degrees C and their geometry (shape and size, and internal structure) could flexibly be controlled by a small change in the lipophilic tail architecture of the surfactant, temperature, and water addition. Increasing number of isostearate chain per surfactant molecule decreases the micelles size favoring prolate-to-sphere type transition. This phenomenon could be best understood due to voluminous lipophilic part of the surfactant. Increasing temperature decreases the size of the reverse micelles due to enhanced inter-penetration of the surfactant chain and the oil and also due to dominant hydrophobic character of the surfactant at higher temperatures. In the studies of effect of added water on the structure of micelles, it was found that the reverse micelles swell with water causing two dimensional micellar growths.

Formation and rheological behavior of viscoelastic wormlike micelles in an aqueous solution of a mixed system of nonionic fluorocarbon surfactants, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide ethoxylate, C8F17SO2N(C3H7)(CH2CH2O)nH (abbreviated as C8F17EOn, n=20 and 3), was studied. A partial ternary phase diagram of water/C8F17EO20/C8F17EO3 was constructed at 25 degrees C by visual inspection through crossed polarizers. In the water/surfactant binary system, C8F17EO20 forms an isotropic micellar solution over a wide concentration range (approximately 80 wt %). The micellar solution of the C8F17EO20 can solubilize a significant amount of C8F17EO3, and the solubility increases with increasing C8F17EO20 concentration. With successive addition of C8F17EO3 to the aqueous C8F17EO20 solution, viscosity increases rapidly, and a viscoelastic solution is formed. The viscosity of the viscous sample was approximately 5th order of magnitude of pure water. The viscoelastic solution follows the Maxwell model typical of wormlike micelles at low-frequency region. With further addition of C8F17EO3 the viscosity decreases, and phase separation occurs. Addition of perfluoropolyether oil, (C3F6O)nCOOH, to the viscoelastic solution decreases the viscosity monotonically until phase separation. On the other hand, when perfluorodecalin oil, C10F18, is added, viscosity first decreases and attains a limiting value before excess oil phase separates out. The viscosity decrease in water/surfactant/oil systems is possibly caused by the microstructural transition in the network structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements were performed to complement the rheological data. It has been found that the C8F17EO3 induces one-dimensional growth to the C8F17EO20 micelles. On the other hand, when (C3F6O)nCOOH is added, wormlike-sphere type transition is more likely to occur.

The formation of viscoelastic wormlike micelles in mixed amino acid surfactant/nonionic surfactant aqueous systems in the presence of different counterions and salts is reported, and the effects of the different electrolytes on the rheological behavior are discussed. N-dodecanoylglutamic acid (LAD) is neutralized with biologically relevant L-lysine and L-arginine to obtain anionic surfactants (LAD-Lys2, LAD-Arg2) which form aqueous micellar solutions at 25 degrees C. Addition of a nonionic surfactant, tri-ethyleneglycol mono n-tetradecyl ether (C14EO3), to the aqueous solutions of both LAD-Lys2 and LAD-Arg2 causes the zero-shear viscosity (eta(0)) to increase with C14EO3 concentration gradually at first, and then sharply, indicating one-dimensional growth of the aggregates and eventual formation of entangled wormlike micelles. Further addition of C14EO3 ultimately leads to phase separation of liquid crystals. Such a phase separation, which limits the maximum attainable viscosity, takes place at lower C14EO3 concentrations for LAD-Lys2 compared to LAD-Arg2 systems. It was found that the rheological behavior of micellar solutions is significantly affected by the addition of Na+X(-) salts (X = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), NO3(-)). The maximum viscosities obtained for the systems with added salt are all higher than that of the salt-free system, and the onset of wormlike micelle formation shift towards lower nonionic surfactant concentrations upon addition of electrolyte. The maximum attainable thickening effect of anions increases in the order NO3(-)>I(-)>Br(-)>Cl(-). The effect of temperature was also investigated. Phase separation takes place at certain temperature, which depends on the type of anion in the added salt, and decreases in the order I(-)>NO3(-)>Br(-) approximately equal Cl(-), in agreement with Hofmeister's series in terms of amphiphile solubility. The thermoresponsive rheological behavior was also found to be highly dependent on the type of anion, and anomalous trends, i.e. viscosity increase with temperature, were observed for all anions except Br(-).

We present the formation of viscoelastic wormlike micelles in mixed amino acid-based anionic and nonionic surfactants in aqueous systems in the absence of salt. N-Dodecylglutamic acid (designated as LAD) has a higher Krafft temperature; however, on neutralization with alkaline amino acid l-lysine, it forms micelles and the solution behaves like a Newtonian fluid at 25 degrees C. Addition of tri(oxyethylene) monododecyl ether (C(12)EO(3)) and tri(oxyethylene) monotetradecyl ether (C(14)EO(3)) to the dilute aqueous solution of the LAD-lysine induces one-dimensional micellar growth. With increasing C(12)EO(3) or C(14)EO(3) concentration, the solution viscosity increases gradually, but after a certain concentration, the elongated micelles entangle forming a rigid network of wormlike micelles and the solution viscosity increases tremendously. Thus formed wormlike micelles show a viscoelastic character and follow the Maxwell model. Tri(oxyethylene) monohexadecyl ether (C(16)EO(3)), on the other hand, could not form wormlike micelles, although the solution viscosity increases too. The micelles become elongated; however, they do not appear to form a rigid network of wormlike micelles in the case of C(16)EO(3). Rheological measurements have shown that zero shear viscosity (eta(0)) increases with the C(12)EO(3) concentration gradually at first and then sharply, and finally decreases before phase separation. However, no such maximum in the eta(0) plot is observed with the C(14)EO(3). The eta(0) increases monotonously with the C(14)EO(3) concentration till phase separation. In studies of the effect of temperature on the wormlike micellar behavior it has been found that the eta(0) decays exponentially with temperature, following an Arrehenius behavior and at sufficiently higher temperatures the solutions follow a Newtonian behavior. The flow activation energy calculated from the slope of log eta(0) versus 1/T plot is very close to the value reported for typical wormlike micelles. Finally, we also present the effect of neutralization degree of lysine on the rheology and phase behavior. The formation of wormlike micelles is confirmed by the Maxwell model fit to the experimental rheological data and by Cole-Cole plots.

Formation of wormlike micelles in mixed anionic/cationic system without the addition of any salt has been studied. Amino-acid based anionic surfactant N-dodecylglutamic acid (LAD), which is practically immiscible with water at 25 degrees C upon neutralization by 2,2',2''-nitrilotriethanol (TEA) forms small micellar aggregates and the solution behaves like a Newtonian fluid. The rheological behavior of LAD/water/hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and LAD/water/dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) systems were investigated at different degrees of neutralization of the LAD depending on the concentration of the cationic surfactants and on temperature. Addition of CTAB to the dilute aqueous solution of the LAD-TEA-x (the neutralized product, where x represents the mole ratio of TEA) causes one dimensional micellar growth. After certain concentration the elongated micelles entangle forming a rigid network of viscoelastic wormlike micelles. Thus formed viscoelastic solutions follow Maxwellian behavior over a wide range of frequency and thus are considered to consist of transient network of wormlike micelles. By varying the degree of neutralization from 1:1 via 1:1.5 to 1:2 (molar ratio) phase and rheological behavior were modified in that the highly viscous region of viscoelastic wormlike micelles shifted to higher CTAB concentrations and no maxima in the zero-shear viscosity could be observed for the higher degree of neutralization of the LAD (1:1.5 and 1:2). However, the obtained rheological parameters showed scaling relationships that were consistent with the living polymer model. The zero-shear viscosity decays exponentially with temperature following Arrhenius behavior. The flow activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius plot is very close to the value reported for the typical wormlike micellar solution. In contrast to CTAB no formation of viscoelastic wormlike micelles could be observed with DTAB, although, the solution viscosity increases. The elongated micelles could not entangle to form a rigid network of wormlike micelles in this system. For the first time viscoelastic wormlike micelles could be obtained in salt-free mixed anionic/cationic surfactant systems.

We have studied the effect of added water on the nonaqueous foaming properties of diglycerol fatty acid ester nonionic surfactant systems. Diglycerol monomyristate (designated as DGM) could not foam in nonpolar oils squalane and hexadecane at normal room temperature. Nevertheless, addition of a small amount of water induces a dramatic change in foaming properties. Both the foamability and foam stability increases with the amount of added water within the studied concentration range. Phase behavior study showed that in the dilute regions there is dispersion of solid surfactant in the aforementioned oils in the DGM systems. The particle size of the dispersed solid phase was found to be several tens of microns in the water free system, and hence it tends to coagulate and precipitate. In the case of shorter alkyl chain length, diglycerol monolaurate (DGL) surfactant-oil systems, dispersion of lamellar liquid crystal (Lalpha) is observed at room temperature, and the poor foaming properties were attributed to the large particle size of the liquid crystal. In both the DGL and DGM-oil systems, we observed a tendency of the particle size to decrease with the increasing concentration of added water. At higher temperature, the solid surfactant transforms to lamellar liquid crystal phase, and foaming is improved in the DGM/squalane system. Foams are stable for several minutes. Judging from the foaming test and particle size distribution data it can be concluded that the poor foaming in the diglycerol fatty acid esters-oil systems may possibly be due to bigger particle size, which causes precipitation. Addition of water results in the dispersion of smaller particles and improves the foaming behavior.