Specific counterion effect on the adsorbed film of cationic surfactant mixtures at the air/water interface

H. H. Li, Y. Imai, M. Yamanaka, Y. Hayami, T. Takiue, H. Matsubara, M. Aratono

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To investigate the counterion effects, we employed dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr)-dodecyltrimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (DTABF4) mixed aqueous solutions and measured their surface tensions, then analyzed these data in a thermodynamic treatment. The tensiometry showed that DTABF4 was more effective in lowering the surface tension of water. The phase diagram of adsorption demonstrated that the surface was enriched with BF4- ions, but the composition of Br- ions in the adsorbed film was slightly enhanced compared to the ideal mixing criteria. These were explained in terms of the size and polarizability of counterions. Moreover, the distribution of counterions of the DTABr-DTABF4 mixtures in the adsorbed film is greatly different from that of the 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HMIMBr)-1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (HMIMBF4) mixtures, where a stronger hydrogen-bonding exists between BF4- and HMIM+ ions. These findings suggest that the adsorption of counterions in electric double layers is likely subject to two factors: the nature of counterion and their interactions with surfactant ions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-193
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Colloid And Interface Science
Volume359
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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