title: Ionic liquids as amphiphile self-assembly media.
abstract: In recent years, the number of non-aqueous solvents which mediate hydrocarbon-solvent interactions and promote the self-assembly of amphiphiles has been markedly increased by the reporting of over 30 ionic liquids which possess this previously unusual solvent characteristic. This new situation allows a different exploration of the molecular "solvophobic effect" and tests the current understanding of amphiphile self-assembly. Interestingly, both protic and aprotic ionic liquids support amphiphile self-assembly, indicating that it is not required for the solvents to be able to form a hydrogen bonded network. Here, the use of ionic liquids as amphiphile self-assembly media is reviewed, including micelle and liquid crystalline mesophase formation, their use as a solvent phase in microemulsions and emulsions, and the emerging field of nanostructured inorganic materials synthesis. Surfactants, lipids and block co-polymers are the focus amphiphile classes in this critical review (174 references).
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Tamar L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Greaves
authors.forename: Calum J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Drummond
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry; D008823:Micelles; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D008823:Micelles; D012997:Solvents