Issue 29, 2018, Issue in Progress

A gemini surfactant-containing system with abundant self-assembly morphology and rheological behaviors tunable by photoinduction

Abstract

Photoresponsive micellar systems with adjustable aggregate morphologies and rheological properties may be useful in a number of fields such as in microfluidics, controlled release, and sensors. However, the complexity and great difficulty of synthesising photosensitive molecules hamper their practical applications to a significant degree. In this study, we constructed a novel photoinduced self-assembly system by introducing the photoresponsive derivative trans-2-methoxy-cinnamate (trans-OMCA) into the gemini surfactant N,N′-bis(dodecyldimethyl)-1,2-ethane diammonium dibromide (12-2-12·2Br) solutions. The system displays abundant phase behaviors, and the long worm-like micelles, vesicles, as well as an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) are observed in the 12-2-12·2Br/trans-OMCA mixed system even at lower surfactant concentrations. The UV-responsive behavior of the formed vesicles and the worm-like micelles is investigated systematically. The results have shown that OMCA undergoes photoisomerization from the trans-form to the cis-form through UV light irradiation that alters the molecular packing at the micellar interface and thus leads to the transformation of micellar morphologies. The long worm-like micelles will turn into much shorter units when the sample is exposed to 365 nm UV light accompanied by a decrease in solution viscosity by more than an order of magnitude. The formed vesicle system, however, can be utilized to generate a multi-state self-assembly structure, including a worm-like micelle and a small spherical micelle, depending on the UV irradiation time. The morphologies of micelles in a 12-2-12·2Br/trans-OMCA mixed system can be tailored by adjusting the system composition and the duration of UV light irradiation. Correspondingly, the rheological behavior of the 12-2-12·2Br/trans-OMCA mixed system can be purposely tuned. The light-induced system with abundant self-assembly behaviors and tunable rheological properties would widen the potential application of gemini surfactants in drug delivery, smart fluids, and materials science.

Graphical abstract: A gemini surfactant-containing system with abundant self-assembly morphology and rheological behaviors tunable by photoinduction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Feb 2018
Accepted
16 Apr 2018
First published
30 Apr 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2018,8, 16004-16012

A gemini surfactant-containing system with abundant self-assembly morphology and rheological behaviors tunable by photoinduction

Y. Tu, M. Gao, H. Teng, Y. Shang, B. Fang and H. Liu, RSC Adv., 2018, 8, 16004 DOI: 10.1039/C8RA01070F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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