Micelle structure

Surfactants are important industrial chemical, often used as templates for nanoscale materials synthesis. Self-assembled structures in surfactant solutions determine properties such as viscosity and conductivity. The structures are highly dependent upon the presence of co-surfactants, salts and other small molecules in solution.

We collaborate with Dr Daniel Bowron to use total neutron scattering at the SANDALS and NIMROD instruments at the ISIS neutron and muon facility to understand the effect that species such as co-surfactants and anions have on the surfactant self-assembly and water structure around the self-assembled system.

The use of total neutron scattering allows atomistic models of the system understudy to be produced.

Recent publications in this area