The kinetics and mechanism of vesicle self-assembly in aqueous SDS/DTAB mixtures

Abstract

Vesicles may form spontaneously when aqueous solutions of cationic and anionic n-alkyl surfactants, are mixed together at certain concentration ratios. These vesicles once formed are stable and grow to a finite size. We have examined the kinetic processes involved in such vesicle formation using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) mixed at a weight ratio of 1.6 to 1.0. A major aspect of our investigation makes use of the acid-base and solvatochromic probe, 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-1-pyridinio) phenoxide, E(30). E(30) resides in the interfacial region of self-assembled surfactant aggregates and therefore can be used to "report" on the interfacial d..