Complex by Design: Hydrotrope-Induced Micellar Growth in Deep Eutectic Solvents

Published

January 1, 2021

Author(s)

Adrian Sanchez-Fernandez, Anna E. Leung, Elizabeth Kelley, Andrew J. Jackson

Abstract

Here the microstructure of hydrotrope-surfactant assemblies in 1:2 choline chloride:glycerol (ChCl:Glyc) is presented. The effect of choline salicylate (ChSal) on the micellization of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C₁₆TAC) was investigated by contrast-variation small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The microscopic characterization of the system shows that the micelle-hydrotrope interaction in pure and hydrated deep eutectic solvents (DES) results in a significant increase in micelle elongation, leading to the formation of worm-like micelles (WLM) with tunable morphology and flexibility. The results presented here open new possibilities in terms of self-assembly and co-assembly in neoteric solvents, where micelle morphology can be controlled through surfactant-hydrotrope interactions.

Citation

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Volume

581

Issue

Part A

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Deep eutectic solvents, surfactant, hydrotrope, worm-like micelles

Citation

Sanchez-Fernandez, A. , Leung, A. , Kelley, E. and Jackson, A. (2021), Complex by Design: Hydrotrope-Induced Micellar Growth in Deep Eutectic Solvents, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (Accessed October 10, 2025)