Bicontinuous potential applications

Bicontinuous morphologies, such as the gyroid phase, formed by block copolymers are particularly interesting for generating nanoporous high surface area materials for potential applications as membrane reactors. Hashimoto et ak, used... 

Potential Applications of Bicontinuous Nanocomposites 477 Epoxy Resin... 

The ITIES with an adsorbed monolayer of surfactant has been studied as a model system of the interface between microphases in a bicontinuous microemulsion [39]. This latter system has important applications in electrochemical synthesis and catalysis [88-92]. Quantitative measurements of the kinetics of electrochemical processes in microemulsions are difficult to perform directly, due to uncertainties in the area over which the organic and aqueous reactants contact. The SECM feedback mode allowed the rate of catalytic reduction of tra 5-l,2-dibromocyclohexane in benzonitrile by the Co(I) form of vitamin B12, generated electrochemically in an aqueous phase to be measured as a function of interfacial potential drop and adsorbed surfactants [39]. It was found that the reaction at the ITIES could not be interpreted as a simple second-order process. In the absence of surfactant at the ITIES the overall rate of the interfacial reaction was virtually independent of the potential drop across the interface and a similar rate constant was obtained when a cationic surfactant (didodecyldimethylammonium bromide) was adsorbed at the ITIES. In contrast a threefold decrease in the rate constant was observed when an anionic surfactant (dihexadecyl phosphate) was used. 

The polymerization of bicontinuous cubic phases provides a new class of micrpporous materials with properties that have never before been attainable in polymeric membranes. The most important of these properties are now discussed in turn, and for each an application is biiefly dicussed to illustrate the potential importance of the property in a technological, research, or clinical application. 

Microemulsions differ from the macroemulsions in the size and shape of the dispersed droplets. The dispersed droplets in the macroemulsions are roughly spherical in shape, while microemulsions show various structures ranging from droplet-like swollen micelles to bicontinuous structures. This sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish the oil-in-water and water-in-oil microemulsions. Microemulsions are used as potential drug dehvery vehicles for topical applications due to then-unique solubilization properties. It also enhances the bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs. ... 

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