Aggregation of decyltrimethylammonium bromide and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in D2O has been studied. Spin–lattice relaxation time and self-diffusion coefficient of surfactant molecules were measured at concentrations below and above surfactant critical micelle concentration. The aggregation properties of conventional surfactant, CTAB, examined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, were compared with the properties of double-tail analog, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-N,N′dihexadecyl-1,4-butan di-ammonium di-bromide (BCTA). Both NMR and computer simulation methods suggest that micellization is a stepwise process and the pre-micellar aggregates take place in a solution at concentration below critical micelle concentration. According to MD simulation Gemini surfactant, BCTA, forms worm-like micelles, whereas CTAB, which may be considered as its “monomer”, forms only elongated micelles.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)619-630
Number of pages12
JournalApplied Magnetic Resonance
Volume49
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2018

    Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

ID: 42841908