Small angle neutron scattering study on the effect of molecular interaction on the structural properties of cationic and nonionic surfactant mixed micelles in aqueous solutions

We studied aqueous micellar solutions of mixtures of the nonionic surfactant octaethylene glycol mono-n-tetradecyl ether, C14E8, and the cationic surfactant tetradecyl trimethylammoniumbromide, TTAB, through small angle neutron scattering. The mixed micelles maintained their spherical shape without effects of the charged molecules over the whole mixing range, from pure nonionic surfactant to pure cationic surfactant micelles. At very low composition (α = 0.04) of the charged TTAB molecules, the nonionic–cationic mixed micelles have a maximum aggregation number of the micelles. This aggregation phenomenon is described well by molecular–thermodynamic theory. There was synergistic interaction between the surfactants, leading to a maximum aggregation number of the micelles. This study presents an example of a spherical micelle for the synergistic interaction in nonionic–ionic surfactant mixtures.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Nonionic (C14E8)–cationic (TTAB) mixed micelles form in aqueous condition. ► The microstructures of the mixed micelles were obtained by small angle neutron scattering. ► This study represents an example of spherical micelle for the synergistic interaction in the nonionic–ionic surfactant mixtures successfully, which was described well by molecular–thermodynamic theory.