title: Polymer-surfactant vesicular complexes in aqueous medium.
abstract: The introduction of ionic single-tailed surfactants to aqueous solutions of EO(18)BO(10) [EO = poly(ethylene oxide), BO = poly(1,2-butylene oxide), subscripts denote the number of repeating units] leads to the formation of vesicles, as probed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Dynamic light scattering showed that the dimensions of these aggregates at early stages of development do not depend on the sign of the surfactant head group charge. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis indicated the coexistence of smaller micelles of different sizes and varying polymer content in solution. In strong contrast to the dramatic increase of size of dispersed particles induced by surfactants in dilute solution, the d-spacing of corresponding mesophases reduces monotonically upon increasing surfactant loading. This effect points to the suppression of vesicles as a consequence of increasing ionic strength in concentrated solutions. Maximum enhancements of storage modulus and thermal stability of hybrid gels take place at different compositions, indicating a delicate balance between the number and size of polymer-poor aggregates (population increases with surfactant loading) and the number and size of polymer-surfactant complexes (number and size decrease in high surfactant concentrations).
authors.affiliation: Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens, Greece. akelar@cc.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelarakis
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castelletto
authors.forename: Marta J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Krysmann
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Havredaki
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viras
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hamley