Thermal, light and pH triple stimulated changes in self-assembly of a novel small molecular weight amphiphile binary system†
Abstract
Novel multiple stimuli-responsive fluids based on an azobenzene-contained surfactant 1-[2-(4-decylphenylazo-phenoxy)-ethyl]-3-methylimidazolium bromide (C10AZOC2IMB) and a hydrotrope 4-(trifluoromethyl) salicylic acid (4FS) can be reversibly induced by temperature, light and pH from vesicles to wormlike micelles. UV-vis spectra, rheology and cryo-TEM measurements were utilized to prove the self-assembly transitions.