Solid/RTIL interfaces

Section 3.4 Adsorption of nonionic surfactants at solid/RTIL interfaces... 

ADSORPTION OF NONIONIC SURFACTANTS AT SOLID/RTIL INTERFACES... 

We have discussed the self-assembly of nonionic surfactants that occurs in RTILs. Overall, the self-assembly properties in RTILs are largely similar to the aqueous medium. Notable differences between the aqueous and nonaqueous systems are sometimes seen when nonionic surfactants form micelles or lyotropic liquid crystals at certain compositions and temperatures, and this mainly results from the different affinity of the nonionic surfactants with the liquids. In other words, it may be possible to expect the formation of micelles or lyotropic liquid crystals to a certain degree by considering the solvophobic or solvophilic nature of the nonionic surfactants in the RTILs. An interesting feature of RTILs is their self-assembly in bulk liquids and at interfaces. This feature also makes a significant impact on the self-assembly of nonionic surfactants in RTILs. Particularly, we have demonstrated the importance of this feature when nonionic surfactants adsorb at solid/RTIL interfaces. We believe that the self-assembled structures of amphiphilic molecules with RTILs are of great interest not only from academic but also from industrial standpoints. One of the potential applications based on such self-assembled structures should be high-performance ion-conductive electrolytes as a new device system with nanolevel order [50]. 

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