Enhanced stabilization of vesicles formed in mixed cationic and anionic surfactant systems by compressed gases

Abstract

Herein we investigated the effects of six hydrocarbon gases (methane, ethane, propane, ethylene, propylene and isobutene) on mixed cationic–anionic surfactant solutions by phase behavior observation, turbidity, conductivity, and fluorescence spectra. It was found that all these gases could enhance the stability of vesicles formed in the mixed surfactant solutions. The pressure for the stable vesicle formation is decreased with the increasing gas molecular chain length. The possible mechanism for the enhanced vesicle stability by compressed gases was discussed.