Polymer-Modified Bicontinuous Microemulsions Used as a Template for the Formation of Nanorods

Abstract

This article is focused on the characterization of the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-induced bicontinuous microemulsion of the pseudo-ternary system sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)/xylene-pentanol/water by means of differential scanning calorimetry, rheology, and conductometry. The influence of the polymer concentration (c_p) and the molecular weight (M_w) on the microstructure of the microemulsion was investigated using Cryo scanning electron microscopy. It was found that an increase of c_p influences the structure of the sponge-like phase significantly. These polymer-modified microemulsions can be used as a template phase for the formation of BaSO₄ nanorods, where individual nanoparticles (5 nm in size) are ordered along the polymer backbone.

Keywords:

• Bariumsulfate
• microemulsions
• nanoparticles
• poly(ethylene glycol)

The authors thank the Graduate School “Confined Interactions and Reactions in Soft Matter” program of the University of Potsdam for financial support.

Notes

^a Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS).

^b Xylene-pentanol (1:1).

Part of the special issue, Surface and Colloid Chemistry Without Borders: An International Festschrift for Professor Per Stenius on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday.