Influence of temperature and alkyl chain length on phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of some oxyethylenated nonionic surfactants

We study the surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of a series of nonionic surfactants of the general formula CnE1 with n=14, 16, and 18 by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) over a wide range of temperatures. A cusp point followed by a pronounced plateau region in the pressure-area (pi-A) isotherms indicates a first-order phase transition in the coexisting state between a lower density liquid expanded (LE) phase and a higher density liquid condensed (LC) phase at the air-water interface. The formation of bright two-dimensional (2D) LC domains in a dark background visualized by BAM further confirms this observation. In addition to the cusp point at the onset of the LE-LC coexistence state, another cusp point followed by a small plateau is observed for the C14E1 and C18E1 monolayers, indicating a second phase transition between two condensed phases of different compressibility and tilt orientation of the molecules. This unusual two-step phase transition is explained by the Ostwald step rule. The C16E1 and C18E1 monolayers show a kink in their respective isotherms, after which the surface pressure increases steeply with only a little decrease in the molecular area, suggesting that the molecules undergo a transition from a tilted to an almost vertical orientation with respect to the water surface. The thermodynamic parameters for the condensation of the molecules in the LE-LC coexistence state were calculated by employing the 2D Clapeyron equation. The temperature coefficient of the critical surface pressure dpi(c)/dT values shows a decreasing trend from C14E1 to C18E1, suggesting that the condensation process becomes less and less prone to thermal perturbation as the chain length increases. For all the amphiphiles, the DeltaH values are found to be negative, suggesting an exothermic nature of condensation. The negative DeltaS values obtained from the relation DeltaH/T probably come from the restriction on the rotational and translational motion of the molecules constrained in a confined area in the LE-LC transition region.     

Influence of alkyl chain length on phosphate self-assembled monolayers

A series of alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C10 to C18 have been synthesized. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were prepared on titanium oxide surfaces by immersion of the substrates in alkyl phosphate solutions of 0.5 mM concentration in n-heptane/isopropanol. The SAMs were characterized by means of dynamic water contact angle (dCA) measurements, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A higher degree of order and packing density within the monolayers was found for alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths exceeding 15 carbon atoms. This is reflected in a lower dCA hysteresis, as well as a film thickness measured by VASE and XPS close to the expected values for SAMs with an average alkyl chain tilt angle of 30 degrees to the surface normal. Additionally a shift of the symmetric and antisymmetric C-H stretching modes in the PM-IRRAS spectra to lower wave numbers was observed. These findings imply a higher two-dimensional crystallinity of the films derived from alkyl phosphates with a longer alkyl chain length.     

Influence of the alkyl side chain length on the room-temperature phosphorescence of organic copolymers

Pure organic room-temperature phosphorescence(RTP) materials have attracted wide attention owing to their excellent luminescent properties and great potential in various applications. In this work, iminostilbene and its analogues are applied to realize RTP emission by copolymerizing with acrylamide. It can be concluded that the growth of alkane chain in monomers can enhance the lifetime and photoluminescence quantum yield of RTP emission, and polymers with the larger conjugated structure of the ...     

Influence of alkyl chain length on the structure of dialkyldithiophosphinic Acid self-assembled monolayers on gold

We report the formation and characterization of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) based on dialkyldithiophosphinic acid adsorbates {[CH(3)(CH(2))(n)](2)P(S)SH (n = 5, 9, 11, 13, 15)} on gold substrates. SAMs were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Data show that there is a roughly 60:40 mixture of bidentate and monodentate adsorbates in each of these SAMs. The presence of monodentate adsorbates is due to the numerous and deep grain boundaries of the underlying gold substrate, which disrupt chelation. Comparing the characterization data of dialkyldithiophosphinic acid SAMs with those of analogous n-alkanethiolate SAMs shows that both SAMs follow a similar trend: The alkyl chains become increasingly organized and crystalline with increasing alkyl chain length. The alkyl groups of dialkyldithiophosphinic acid SAMs, however, are generally less densely packed than those of n-alkanethiolate SAMs. For short alkyl chains (hexyl, decyl, and dodecyl), the significantly lower packing densities cause the alkyl chains to be liquid-like and disorganized. Long-chain dialkyldithiophosphinic acid SAMs are only slightly less crystalline than analogous n-alkanethiolate SAMs.     

Dielectric studies on some mesogenic,non-mesogenic and organic molecules

Two important molecular parameters, namely, the dielectric relaxation time τ and electric dipole moment are highly useful in having insight into the molecular structure, size, shape, apart from the inter- and intra-molecular forces, etc. With these in view dielectric measurements in benzene at room temperature on the pure samples of o-ethyl phenol, 2-n-butylphenol, 4-n-butylphenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 3,4-difluorophenol were carried out at a frequency of 9.98 GHz by employing concentration variation method. Similar measurements, on a single weight fraction of each of them at 9.98 GHz and also at 8.74 GHz are carried out. Measurements on a single weight fraction in benzene of each of the liquid crystal samples, namely, EPCP.car (Butyl-p-(p-ethoxy phenoxy corbonyl)-phenyl carbonate), PPPB (p-pentylphenyl-p-propyl benzonate), EPAP.Hp (p-(p-ethoxyphenyl azo) phenyl heptenate) and EPAP. Und (p-(p-ethoxyphenyl azo) phenyl undecylenate were also carried out at the said two frequencies. Using the obtained values of ε′, ε′′ relaxation time and dipole moment were determined using different methods. The obtained results are compared with earlier results wherever available.     

Influence of alkyl chain length of alpha olefin sulfonates on surface and interfacial properties

Alpha olefin sulfonates (AOS) with various alkyl chain lengths have been used to investigate the influence of alkyl chain length on the interfacial properties at air–water, liquid paraffin–water, and parafilm–water interfaces. It was found that the critical micelle concentration decreased with increasing alkyl chain length, while the efficiency of reducing surface tension was inverse relationship with alkyl chain length. The diffusion coefficient obviously reduced with an increase of surfactant concentration and alkyl chain length. The C_14-16AOS shows better wettability and emulsification than C_16-18AOS and C_20-24AOS. For foaming properties, the foamability and foam stability dramatically decreased with increasing alkyl chain length.     

Influence of peripheral alkyl chain length on the mesomorphic behaviours of hexasubstituted triphenylene 2,3-dicarboxylic esters

A comparative study of our established synthetic approaches to hexasubsituted triphenylenes 2,3-dicarboxylic esters containing four identical β-alkoxy and two adjacent β-alkoxycarbonyl side chains shows that the phase behaviours of small-sized discotic liquid crystals can be tailored over a wide range by simply varying the length of the peripheral alkyl chains. All the prepared esters in two series were observed to form a single hexagonal columnar phase, except for Tp4-1 having four β-butyloxy and two adjacent β-methoxycarbonyl chains which displays two columnar mesophase behaviours with a transition from the columnar plastic phase to hexagonal columnar phase. A significant difference between the two mesophase was observed in the variable temperature X-ray diffraction studies, and the mesophase assignment was also confirmed by polarising optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, the prepared esters in each series display the general trend of decreasing clearing temperature upon increasing alkoxy or alkoxycarbonyl chains length. The intermediate triphenylene 2,3-dicarboxylic acids were also found not only to exhibit columnar hexagonal mesophase over a narrower temperature range by maintaining high melting and clearing points but also to form organogel on mixing with toluene or dichloromethane with the assistance of hydrogen bonding.     

The influence of alkyl chain length on surfactant distribution within organo-montmorillonites and their thermal stability

Organically modified clay minerals with high thermal stability are critical for synthesis and processing of clay-based nanocomposites. Two series of organo-montmorillonites have been synthesized using surfactants with different alkyl chain length. The organo-montmorillonites were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential thermogravimetry, combining with molecule modelling. For surfactant with relatively short alkyl chain, the resultant organo-montmorillonite displays a small maximum basal spacing (ca. 1.5?nm) and most surfactants intercalate into montmorillonite interlayer spaces as cations with a small amount of surfactant molecules loaded in the interparticle pores with ??house-of-cards?? structure. However, for surfactant with relatively long alkyl chain, the resultant organo-montmorillonite displays a large maximum basal spacing (ca. 4.1?nm) and the loaded surfactants exist in three formats: intercalated surfactant cations, intercalated surfactant molecules (ionic pairs), and surfactant molecules in interparticle pores. The surfactant molecules (ionic pairs) in interparticle pores and interlayer spaces will be evaporated around the evaporation temperature of the neat surfactant while the intercalated surfactant cations will be evaporated/decomposed at higher temperature.     

Influence of terminal alkyl chain length on helical twisting property of chiral 1,2-propanediol derivatives

In this study,a novel series of chiral 1,2-propanediol derivatives with different terminal alkyl chain length were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR,~1H NMR and DSC.After doped into a nematic liquid crystal host,all the chiral dopants induced chiral nematic liquid crystals exhibiting a helix inversion with temperature variation.The results indicate that terminal alkyl chain length has a prominent influence on helical twisting property of the chiral dopants.With increasing the terminal alkyl chain le...     

Effects of alkyl chain length on synergetic adsorption and micelle formation in homologous cationic surfactant mixtures

The surface tensions (gamma) of the aqueous solutions of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) were measured as a function of the total molality of surfactants (m) and the relative proportion (composition) of DTAB (X(2)) at 298.15 +/- 0.05 K under atmospheric pressure. The effect of the difference in the hydrophobic chain length between hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) and DTAB on the synergism was examined. This synergism was observed in the miscibility at the surface of a mixture of these two compounds. The excess Gibbs energy of adsorption of the TTAB-DTAB system was positive in contrast to the HTAB-DTAB system. This indicates that there are certain restrictions on the difference in the hydrophobic chain length for the synergism to be brought about in homologous cationic surfactant mixtures. This mechanism was explained by the theory of a staggered structure formation at the air/water interface. A similar argument successfully applied to the hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (HTAC)-dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TTAC)-DTAC mixtures also.     

Effects of alkyl chain length on surface and micellar properties of octaethyleneglycol-n alkyl ethers

Summary Surface and micellar properties of a homologous series of Octaethylene glycol-n-alkyl ethers (C _n E₈;n = 9 to 15) have been studied in aqueous solutions by the surface tension measurements. The effects of the alkyl chain length comprising even and carbon numbers have been examined in order to evaluate the surface free energy G _A-W and the standard free energy G _m for the micellization obtained from their surface tension data. The areas per molecule and the equilibrium surface tension values at the CMC decreased with an increasing carbon number and they showed zigzag curves by the difference in even and odd carbon numbers.These findings may be attributed to the differences in the molecular orientation between the molecules with even carbon number and ones with odd carbon number on the air-water interface at CMC. G _A-W values decreased linearly with an increasing alkyl chain length but did not show a zigzag line by the differences in even and odd carbon numbers. This suggests that the molecular orientation is not influenced by the difference between their even and odd carbon numbers in the alkyl chain on the surface of the very diluted solution, and their molecules form some stable adsorbed films with an increase of the alkyl chain length. A division of G _A-W into the contribution made both by the hydrophilic group G _A-W (-W) and by the hydrophobic group G _A-W (-CH₂-) was attempted as follows; G _A-W (-CH₂-) = – 0.80 kcal/mol and G _a-W (-W) = + 0.15 kcal/mol.The free energy changes G _m of micellization were discussed on the basis of the CMC data obtained from the surface tension measurements by treating the formation of micelles as analogous to phase separation, and the contribution from the each moieties in the molecule were calculated as follows; G _m (-CH₂-) = – 0.68 kcal/mol and G _m (-W) = + 1.54 kcal/mol. The difference between G _A-W and G _m is discussed using their data.     

Effect of the alkyl chain length on micelle formation for bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylethylammonium)ether dibromides

Dimeric alkylammonium salts – gemini surfactants – due to their unusual very low critical micelle concentration and minimal inhibitory concentration are subject to intensive research as surface active and antimicrobial compounds. Thanks to the presence of two positively charged nitrogen atoms and a large molecular surface, gemini surfactants are also very efficient corrosion inhibitors. To strengthen the electrostatic adsorption of ammonium cations on a metal surface, which is a key parameter in the inhibition of corrosion, heteroatoms (O, S, N, or P) and π-electron systems can be introduced into the gemini surfactant structure to increase chemical adsorption. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the alkyl chain length and critical micelle concentration for gemini surfactants containing an oxygen atom in the spacer, that is, bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylethylammonium)ether dibromides, for potential use as corrosion inhibitors.     

Dependence of the conformational equilibrium of alkyl azidoformates on the length of the carbon chain of the alkyl group

Conclusions An empriical dependence of the conformational equilibrium constant of alkyl azidoformates on the length of the alkyl group carbon chain was derived on the basis of an experimental study.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 452–455, February, 1989.     

Electrooptical properties of mesogenic chain molecules in solution and in nematic state

Electrooptical characteristics of mesogenic chain molecules in solution and in mesophase can be described in terms of intra- and intermolecular orientational orders. The value and sign of electric birefringence δn in a solution of kinetically rigid chain molecules are determined by the combination of two factors: intramolecular orientational order which depends on the dipolar and anisotropic architecture of the molecule and intermolecular orientational order caused by the action of the external electric field E. The value and sign of the dielectric anisotropy δε of the polymer nematic phase are also determined by the combination of intra- and intermolecular orders. However, in this case the latter is not maintained by the external field but by the nematic potential of the mesophase. Therefore, comparative investigations of electrooptical properties of polymers in solutions and in nematic melts make it possible to obtain information about the intra- and intermolecular orientational orders of the molecules under investigation in these two states. These investigations were carried out using the method of electric birefringence in solutions and the method of orientational deformations of nematic textures in an electric field. The objects being investigated were nematogenic dimers and trimers. Experimental data obtained for these compounds showed the presence of intramolecular order in their molecules, which is manifested in the odd-even oscillations of the value and sign of Kerr constant K≈δn/E² in solution and δε in the nematic phase when the number of C-C bonds in the methylene spacers of these molecules is varied. This effect is particularly dramatic in the mesophase where it is enhanced by intermolecular nematic potential.     

Self-assembly of 5-alkoxyisophthalic acids: alkyl chain length dependence for the formation of channel-type and sheet-type structures

The effect of alkyl substituants at the C(5) position of isophthalic acid in the self-assembly of the title compounds is discussed with the aid of seven new crystal structures. The formation of channel-type (6 ⩽ n < 12) and sheet-type (n ⩾ 12) structures from 5-alkoxyisophthalic acids (CnISAs) in the crystal lattice is described. One of the reasons proposed for the formation of the cyclic and sheet-type structures observed in the crystal lattice from the title compound is the length of the alkyl chain (n = number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain). The tolerance limit of the channel-type crystal lattice towards polar functional groups is also discussed. The cyclic structures that are observed may also be converted into a ribbon-type form under appropriate conditions.     

Spontaneous ionization of N-alkylphenothiazine molecules adsorbed in channel-type zeolites: effects of alkyl chain length and confinement on electron transfer

The mere mixing of N-alkylphenothiazines with three channel-type acid zeolites with various structures (ferrierite, H-MFI, and mordenite) induces the spontaneous ionization of the heterocyclic molecule in high yield upon adsorption. The diffuse reflectance UV-visible absorption and Raman scattering spectra show that the accessibility of the highly polarizing acid sites is not indispensable to induce the spontaneous ionization process. Due to their particularly low ionization potential values (6.7 eV), the adsorption of the molecules on the external surface or in the inner volume is the key parameter to generate the radical cation. However, the ionization yield and charge stabilization are intimately correlated to the possibility of the zeolites accommodating molecules inside their channels. Moreover, the higher electrostatic field gradient induced by high confinement is required to favor the second ionization and dication formation. The alkyl chain length plays a decisive role by either slowing down the diffusion process or blocking the molecule at the pore entry. Therefore, the efficiency of the ionization process that depends on the number of adsorbed molecules decreases significantly from phenothiazine to the N-alkylphenothiazines. The spectral data demonstrate that deformation of the alkyl group is necessary to allow the diffusion of the molecules into the channels.     

Side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes with azobenzene mesogenic moieties: Influence of spacer length on hydrogen bonding at different temperatures

A series of side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes (CnCNPs), in which the spacer length was varied from 2 to 12 methylene units, were synthesized by the addition polymerization of α-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-ω-(4-cyanoazobenzene-4′-oxy)alkanes (CnCN-diols) with hexamethylene diisocyanate. The liquid crystalline properties of CnCNPs were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Polyurethanes with spacer length 4 or higher exhibited mesomophic properties. C4CNP and C5CNP exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase, while C6-C12CNPs exhibited enantiotropic bilayer smectic mesophases. CnCNPs have a high tendency to crystallize; crystallization is kinetically controlled. Polyurethane's backbone crystallization is closely related to hydrogen bonding. To establish the role of hydrogen bonding in mesophase formation as well as crystallization, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of CnCNPs were carried out at different temperatures focusing on H-bonds between the N H and CO groups of the urethane backbone. With increasing temperature, CO and N H stretching bands were evenly shifted to higher wavenumbers, with two exceptions (C4CNP and C5CNP) discussed in detail in the text. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2135–2146, 1998     

Influence of the hydrophobic tail of alkyl glucosides on their ability to solubilize stratum corneum lipid liposomes

The lytic interactions of a series of alkyl glucosides (alkyl chain lengths ranging from C₈ to C₁₂) with liposomes formed by a mixture of lipids modeling the stratum corneum (SC) lipid composition were investigated. The surfactant-to-lipid molar ratios (Re) and the normalized bilayer/aqueous phase partition coefficients (K) were determined by monitoring the changes in the static light-scattering (SLS) of the system during solubilization. The fact that the free surfactant concentrations were always similar to their critical micelle concentrations indicates that the liposome solubilization was mainly ruled by the formation of mixed micelles. At the two interaction levels studied (100 and 0% SLS) the nonyl glucoside showed the highest ability to saturate and to solubilize liposomes (lowest Re values), whereas the dodecyl glucoside showed the highest degree of partitioning into liposomes or affinity with these structures (highest K values). Comparison of the data for octyl glucoside with that reported for the interaction of this surfactant with phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes shows that whereas the SC lipid liposomes were more resistant to the action of this surfactant (higher Re values), its degree of partitioning into SC bilayers was both in the saturation and solubilization of liposomes similar to that exhibited in PC vesicles (similar K values). Received: 27 November 2000/Accepted: 19 February 2001     

Effect of the surfactant alkyl chain length on the stabilisation of lyotropic nematic phases

Lyotropic quaternary mixtures of potassium alkanoates (KCx) and sodium alkyl sulphates (NaCxS), where x is the number of carbon atoms in their alkyl chains, were prepared to investigate the effect of the surfactant alkyl chain length on the stabilisation of lyotropic nematic phases. The lyotropic mixtures investigated were formed by the dissolution of KCx (NaCxS) surfactants in the mixture of Rb₂SO₄/1-decanol/water (Na₂SO₄/1-decanol/water), separately. The uniaxial-to-biaxial nematic phase transitions were identified from the temperature dependence of the birefringences of the nematic phases by means of laser conoscopy. The micelle dimensions were obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering measurements. It was observed that the increase in the surfactant alkyl chain length causes the micellar growth in the plane perpendicular to the main amphiphile bilayer. The surfactant alkyl chain length plays a key role on the shape anisotropy of micelles, which triggers the orientational fluctuations that are responsible for the stabilisation of the different lyotropic nematic phases.