Neutron Scattering Study of the Structural Change Induced by Photopolymerization of AOT/D2O/Dodecyl Acrylate Inverse Microemulsions

Published

November 4, 2008

Author(s)

Kirt A. Page, Jolanta Marszalek, John Pojman

Abstract

SANS/USANS measurements were used to determine the structural changes induced by photopolymerization of AOT/D2O/(Dodecyl Acrylate) inverse microemulsion systems.  Scattering profiles were collected for the initial microemulsions and the films resulting from photopolymerization of the oil phase.  The SANS data for the microemulsions were modeled as spherical, core-shell droplets.  Upon polymerization, the clear mircoemulsions formed opaque films.  From the SANS/USANS data it was apparent that this morphology was not preserved upon polymerization; however, it was clearly observed that the formulation of the microemulsion had a large impact on the structure within the films.  The Guinier region in the USANS data (2.5x10-5 Å-1 d Q d 5.3x10-3 Å-1) from the films indicate that very large structures are formed.  Simultaneously, a well-defined peak (0.15 Å-1 d Q d 0.25 Å-1) in the SANS data indicate that there are also much smaller structures formed.  It is proposed that the low-Q scattering arises from aggregation of the nanometer size water droplets in the microemulsion to form droplets large enough to scattering visible light, while the peak in the high-Q region results from bilayer structures formed by the surfactant.

Citation

Langmuir

Volume

24

Issue

23

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/la8022634

Keywords

microemulsion, photopolymerization, SANS, USANS, structure

Citation

Page, K. , Marszalek, J. and Pojman, J. (2008), Neutron Scattering Study of the Structural Change Induced by Photopolymerization of AOT/D2O/Dodecyl Acrylate Inverse Microemulsions, Langmuir, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/la8022634 (Accessed December 26, 2024)