Mixed monolayers of Gemini surfactants and stearic acid at the air/water interface

The properties of mixed monolayers composed of the cationic Gemini surfactant ([C18H37(CH3)2N+(CH2)3N+(CH3)2C18H37],2Br+, abbreviated as 18-3-18,2Br−1) and stearic acid (SA) at the air/water interface were investigated by using a Langmuir film balance. The excess areas at the different mixed monolayer compositions were obtained and used to evaluate the miscibility and nonideality of mixing. Due to the electrostatic attractive interactions between 18-3-18,2Br−1 and SA, the excess areas indicated negative deviations from ideal mixing. Moreover, 18-3-18,2Br−1 and SA were miscible at the air/water interface, as was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the LB films transferred onto mica substrates. The attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectra showed that SA in the mixed monolayers was ionized completely at a composition XSA=0.67XSA=0.67 and formed a “cationic–anionic surfactant,” i.e., the carboxylate, with 18-3-18,2Br−1 owing to the electrostatic interaction between the head groups.

Graphical abstractSchematic structure of the “cationic–anionic surfactant” formed by stearic acid and a cationic Gemini surfactant.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide