Micelle Thermodynamics of micellization

a micelle aggregation of surfactants or block copolymer in aqueous solution or organic solution, spherical.

surfactants

surfactants composed of polar head group hydrophilic , nonpolar tail group hydrophobic. head groups can anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, or nonionic. tail group can hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, or siloxane. extensive variation in surfactant’s solution , interfacial properties allowed through different molecular structures of surfactants.

hydrophobic coagulation occurs when positively charged solution added sodium alkyl sulfate. coagulation value smaller when alkyl chain length of coagulator longer. hydrophobic coagulation occurs when negatively charged solution contains cationic surfactant. coulomb attraction between head groups , surface competes hydrophobic attraction entire tail in favorable manner.

block copolymer

block copolymers interesting because can microphase separate form periodic nanostructures,[13][14][15] microphase separation situation similar of oil , water. oil , water immiscible - phase separate. due incompatibility between blocks, block copolymers undergo similar phase separation. because blocks covalently bonded each other, cannot demix macroscopically water , oil. in microphase separation blocks form nanometer-sized structures.