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Alkane selection as a critical factor in structuring reverse wormlike micelles

Nogueira, Hilda Camila Nascimento ; Escobar da Silva, Laura Caetano ; Plivelic, Tomás Sigfrido LU ; Lutz-Bueno, Viviane and Sabadini, Edvaldo LU (2025) In Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 684. p.170-180
Abstract

Hypothesis: The oil phase controls the persistence length and aqueous channel diameter of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs), specifically by tuning the cohesive energy density of alkanes. Experiments: We explore the influence of alkanes with varying chain lengths on the rheological properties, structural parameters, and morphology of RWLMs. To establish a link between the solvent characteristics and the structure of RWLMs, we employ a diverse set of complementary techniques, including rheological analysis, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Findings: Our results show that the cross-sectional area and persistence length of... (More)

Hypothesis: The oil phase controls the persistence length and aqueous channel diameter of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs), specifically by tuning the cohesive energy density of alkanes. Experiments: We explore the influence of alkanes with varying chain lengths on the rheological properties, structural parameters, and morphology of RWLMs. To establish a link between the solvent characteristics and the structure of RWLMs, we employ a diverse set of complementary techniques, including rheological analysis, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Findings: Our results show that the cross-sectional area and persistence length of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs) are influenced by the chain length of the alkanes in which the long aggregates are formed. We propose a model based on the Hildebrand solubility parameter to explain this behavior, where alkanes with higher cohesive energy density led to RWLMs with narrower aqueous channels. Selecting specific alkanes makes it possible to fine-tune the diameter of these channels, presenting promising opportunities for designing RWLMs tailored to confined media applications.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alkanes, Aqueous confined media, Hildebrand parameter, Reverse wormlike micelles
in
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
volume
684
pages
11 pages
publisher
Academic Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:39826504
  • scopus:85215358622
ISSN
0021-9797
DOI
10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.085
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f50e9786-5eea-4c2b-a18c-309f001521f2
date added to LUP
2025-03-20 14:17:49
date last changed
2025-07-10 23:01:07
@article{f50e9786-5eea-4c2b-a18c-309f001521f2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Hypothesis: The oil phase controls the persistence length and aqueous channel diameter of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs), specifically by tuning the cohesive energy density of alkanes. Experiments: We explore the influence of alkanes with varying chain lengths on the rheological properties, structural parameters, and morphology of RWLMs. To establish a link between the solvent characteristics and the structure of RWLMs, we employ a diverse set of complementary techniques, including rheological analysis, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Findings: Our results show that the cross-sectional area and persistence length of reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs) are influenced by the chain length of the alkanes in which the long aggregates are formed. We propose a model based on the Hildebrand solubility parameter to explain this behavior, where alkanes with higher cohesive energy density led to RWLMs with narrower aqueous channels. Selecting specific alkanes makes it possible to fine-tune the diameter of these channels, presenting promising opportunities for designing RWLMs tailored to confined media applications.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nogueira, Hilda Camila Nascimento and Escobar da Silva, Laura Caetano and Plivelic, Tomás Sigfrido and Lutz-Bueno, Viviane and Sabadini, Edvaldo}},
  issn         = {{0021-9797}},
  keywords     = {{Alkanes; Aqueous confined media; Hildebrand parameter; Reverse wormlike micelles}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{170--180}},
  publisher    = {{Academic Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Colloid and Interface Science}},
  title        = {{Alkane selection as a critical factor in structuring reverse wormlike micelles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.085}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jcis.2025.01.085}},
  volume       = {{684}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}