title: Shape transitions in supercritical CO2 microemulsions induced by hydrotropes.
abstract: The ability to induce morphological transitions in water-in-oil (w/o) and water-in-CO2 (w/c) microemulsions stabilized by a trichain anionic surfactant 1,4-bis(neopentyloxy)-3-(neopentyloxycarbonyl)-1,4-dioxobutane-2-sulfonate (TC14) with simple hydrotrope additives has been investigated. High-pressure small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has revealed the addition of a small mole fraction of hydrotrope can yield a significant elongation in the microemulsion water droplets. For w/o systems, the degree of droplet growth was shown to be dependent on the water content, the hydrotrope mole fraction, and chemical structure, whereas for w/c microemulsions a similar, but less significant, effect was seen. The expected CO2 viscosity increase from such systems has been calculated and compared to related literature using fluorocarbon chain surfactants. This represents the first report of hydrotrope-induced morphology changes in w/c microemulsions and is a significant step forward toward the formation of hydrocarbon worm-like micellar assemblies in this industrially relevant solvent.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol , Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Marios Hopkins
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hatzopoulos
authors.forename: Ci
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Gregory N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eastoe