Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to investigate the nanostructures of complexes formed by slightly cross-linked anionic copolymer gels of poly(sodium methacrylate-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) P(MAA/NIPAM) interacting with tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), respectively, at room temperature (similar to 23 degrees C). In sequence with decreasing charge density of the P(MAA/NIPAM) copolymer chains, the structures of Pm3n space group cubic, face-centered cubic close packing of spheres, and hexagonal close packing of spheres were respectively determined. The structural elements of spheres and/or rods were shown to be the spherical and/or cylindrical micelles formed by the self-assembly of TTA or DTA cations driven by both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions of the charged copolymer chains/surfactants and of the surfactants/surfactants inside the polyelectrolyte gel matrix. Both the aggregation number and the size of the micelles decreased with decreasing charge density of the copolymer chains. By further decreasing the charge density of the P(MAA/NIPAM) chains, the structures of resulting complexes became less ordered.