Journal of Shanghai University(Natural Science Edition) ›› 2018, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (6): 912-924.doi: 10.12066/j.issn.1007-2861.1880

• Research Paper • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactant in aqueous solution: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation

XU Yi1(), MAO Xinjian1, GUO Siyu1, FENG Jian2   

  1. 1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
    2. School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, Anhui, China
  • Received:2017-02-20 Online:2018-12-30 Published:2018-12-24
  • Contact: XU Yi E-mail:tree2000xy@shu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Self-assembly behaviors of a series of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants C$_{m}$H$_{2m+1}$-PO$^{4-}$-(CH$_{2}) _{2}$-N$^{+}$(CH$_{3})_{2}$-C$_{n}$H$_{2n+1}$, abbreviated as C$_{m}$-P-N-C$_{n}$ $(m, n$=9, 9; 9, 12; 9, 15; 9, 18; 12, 12; 12, 15; 12, 18; 15, 15; 15, 18 and 18, 18), have been investigated in aqueous solution with a dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. Morphologies such as sphere (S), rod (R), planar grid (PG), lamella (L), honeycomb (H), one-, two- and three-dimensional tunnels (1DT, 2DT and 3DT) have been observed. With increase of surfactant concentration in the aqueous solution, a distinct transition path S—R—PG—3DT—L—2DT—1DT is shown to be common for all simulated systems. Besides, the hydrophobic chain length has a significant influence on the self-assembly behaviors when $m\neq n$. Radial distribution function is an effective method for quantitative evaluation of interaction and relationship between each functional group in the C$_m$-P-N-C$_n$ molecule and water. The results provide an insight into self-assembly behaviors of zwitterionic heterogemini surfactants and corresponding applications.

Key words: self-assembly, zwitterionic heterogemini surfactant, dissipative particle dynamics

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