Gemini surfactants micelle dynamics

Molecular dynamics simulations of gemini surfactants in aqueous solutions accounted for the change of micelle shape from spheroidal to elongated upon decreasing spacer carbon number [115]. They also predicted the formation of branched thread-like micelles. Oligomeric surfactants are capable of forming such structures because the different alkyl chains of such a surfactant can take different relative orientations in the micelles. 

One of the possible alternative to micelles are spherical dendrimers of diameter generally ranging between 5 and 10 nm. These are highly structured three-dimensional globular macromolecules composed of branched polymers covalently bonded to a central core [214]. Therefore, dendrimers are topologically similar to micelles, with the difference that the strnctnre of micelles is dynamic whereas that of dendrimers is static. Thus, unlike micelles, dendrimers are stable nnder a variety of experimental conditions. In addition, dendrimers have a defined nnmber of fnnctional end gronps that can be functionalized to prodnce psendostationary phases with different properties. Other psendostationary phases employed to address the limitations associated with the micellar phases mentioned above and to modnlate selectivity include water-soluble linear polymers, polymeric surfactants, and gemini snrfactant polymers. 

The chapter is organized as follows. Section II briefly recalls the theoretical aspects of micellar dynamics and the expressions of the relaxation times characterizing the main relaxation processes (surfactant exchange, micelle formation/breakdown). Section III reviews studies of micellar kinetics of various types of surfactants conventional surfactants with a hydrocarbon chain, surfactants with a fluorinated chain, and gemini (dimeric) surfactants. Section IV deals with mixed micellar solutions. Section V considers the d5mamics of solubilized systems. Section VI reviews the dynamics of sur-... 

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