Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Molecules: Micelles and Micro-Phases

Abstract

The self-organizational formation of reverse micelles in binary surfactant/solvent mixtures and of aqueous microphases in ternary water/surfactant/oil systems is reported. In particular, recent results regarding the surface thermodynamics (interfacial free energy) of individual microphases, electro-optical pulsed Kerr-effect measurements to study various dipolar relaxation processes, and conductive percolation phenomena in these thermodynamically stable emulsions are discussed. Finally, applicative aspects of microphases in various scientific and technological domains are mentioned.