Nanocage aggregates composed of bilayer sheets

A partially fluorinated carboxylate-type anionic gemini surfactant, N,N'-di(3-perfluorohexyl-2-hydroxypropyl)- N,N'-diacetic acid-ethylenediamine (2C6Fedda), formed aggregates with a cagelike structure in an aqueous alkali solution. These aggregates were composed of several bilayer sheets. The TEM micrograph showed that the bilayer sheets were produced from a condensed self-assembly core. The leaflike bilayer sheets can form folds and link to each other at their edges. The typical size of the spherical cage ranged from ca. 200 to 1500 nm.