CO2/N2-switchable viscoelastic fluids based on a pseudogemini surfactant system

We prepared a CO₂/N₂-switchable pseudogemini surfactant system composed of sodium oleate (NaOA) and N, N, N’, N’-tetramethyl-1, 6-hexanediamine (TMHDA) at a mole ratio of 2:1. The two tertiary amine groups of the TMHDA can be protonated into quaternary ammonium salt when the system was bubbled with CO₂, which can ‘‘bridge’’ two NaOA molecules via electrostatic attraction to form a pseudogemini surfactant. The formed pseudogemini surfactant can further self-assemble to wormlike micelles, causing a sharp increase in viscosity. The viscoelastic property and structure transitions of the pseudogemini surfactant system were investigated before and after bubbling of CO₂. The pseudogemini surfactant system transformed from water-like to gel-like fluid with the bubbling of CO₂, followed by white precipitate. The cryo-transmission electron microscope (cryo-TEM) characterization and rheological measurements exhibited that the sol–gel transition was attributed to a spherical-wormlike micelle transition. Moreover, this transition was switchable at least in three cycles. Finally, a reasonable mechanism of aggregate behavior transition was proposed from the viewpoint of the molecular states, micelle structures, and intermolecular interactions.