Langmuir, Vol.25, No.17, 9721-9727, 2009
Comparison of Aggregation Behaviors between Ionic Liquid-Type Imidazolium Gemini Surfactant [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2 and Its Monomer [C(12)mim]Br on Silicon Wafer
The aggregation of ionic liquid-type imidazolium gemini surfactant [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2 oil silicon wafer, which is compared with its monomer [C(12)mim]Br, have been studied. AFM morphology images and contact angle measurements suggest that the aggregations of [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2 and [C(12)mim]Br oil silicon wafer follow different mechanisms. Below the critical surface aggregation concentrations (CSAC), both surfactant molecules are adsorbed with their hydrophobic tails facing the air. But above the CSAC. [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2 molecules finally form it bilayer structure with hydrophilic head groups facing tire air, whereas [C(12)mim]Br molecules form a multilayer structure, and with increasing its concentration, the layer numbers increase with the hydrophobic chains and hydrophilic head groups facing the air by turns. Besides, the watery wettability of [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2-treated silica surface is lower than that of [C(12)mim]Br at the concentration of 5.0 cmc, end the infrared spectroscopy suggests that the poorer watery wettability of [C-12-4-C(12)im]Br-2 may be relative to the less-ordered packing of methylene chains inside the aggregate. These different aggregation behaviors for the two surfactants ascribe to the different molecular structures and electrostatic interactions. This work would have certain theoretical guidance meaning on the modification of solid Surface.