Self-Assembly in Bulk

Surfactants frequently self-assemble in water or in oil, into a large variety of structures, depending on the surfactant and on its concentration. The most common structures will be described in this chapter. Surfactants may also self-assemble in the presence of both oil and water, and structures such as microemulsions are encountered. Self-assembly also occurs in mixed solutions of surfactants and polymers or particles, in solutions of amphiphilic polymers or proteins and in dispersions of particles with functionalized surfaces. A recent survey can be found in the book edited by Nagarajan (2019). Because of their relevance to emulsions, microemulsions, and foams, this chapter will focus on surfactant-based systems and their main features. The common case of surfactant molecules with small polar head groups and hydrophobic carbon chains will be mostly considered. The topic is described in more detail in many books that the reader may consult, for instance, Tanford (1980), Israelachvili (1992), and Evans and Wennerstrom (1999).