Packing conditions of ionic surfactant molecules in ellipsoidal micelles

Relations between the main parameters characterizing the structure of ellipsoidal micelles of ionic surfactants in aqueous solutions and the geometric sizes of micelles are derived and analyzed within the framework of the model of the two-axial ellipsoid of revolution. Conditions of the existence of “continuous” and hollow ellipsoidal micelles are discussed using the generalized Gibbs-Curie principle. Shape factors of spherical, ellipsoidal, and cylindrical micelles are compared. Results are verified using micelles of sodium decyl sulfate in aqueous solutions as examples.