2021 Impact factor 1.624
Soft Matter and Biological Physics


Eur. Phys. J. E 7, 317-324 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10012-6

Association behaviour of glucitol amine gemini surfactants

Self-consistent-field theory and molecular-dynamics simulations
M.C.P. van Eijk1, M. Bergsma2 and S.-J. Marrink3

1  Lund University, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry 1, P. O. Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
2  University of Groningen, Stratingh Institute, Physical Organic Chemistry Unit, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
3  University of Groningen, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands

marcel.vaneijk@cpkelco.com
bergsma@gmx.net
marrink@chem.rug.nl

(Received: 12 January 2002 and Received in final form 10 March 2002)

Abstract
The association behaviour of a number of glucitol amine gemini surfactants has been investigated by means of molecular dynamics and self-consistent-field calculations. We have shown that the titratable head group of the surfactant is responsible for a micelle-to-membrane transition when changing the pH. Furthermore, the association structure of this group of surfactants is shown to be very sensitive to ionic strength. The combination of a charged head group, a spacer, and the hydrophilic glucitol side chains is responsible for the possible structural transitions in the associates as a function of ionic strength and pH.

PACS
82.70.Uv - Surfactants, micellar solutions, vesicles, lamellae, amphiphilic systems (hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions).
81.16.Dn - Self-assembly.
64.70.Nd - Structural transitions in nanoscale materials.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002

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