HYDROGEN-BOND EFFECTS INDUCED BY ALCOHOL ON THE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF IONIC REVERSE MICELLES

In this work we report how the structure of Zn(AOT)(2)/H2O/d-cyclohexa ne microemulsions is affected by the presence of alcohol (normal penta nol) molecules as cosurfactant. The systems are investigated by small- angle neutron scattering (SANS) and by Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spe ctroscopy. The SANS technique allows the study of the evolution of the size, the shape and the possible correlation length of concentration fluctuations as a function of water and alcohol content. Moreover FTIR spectra, in the OH stretching region, is quite sensitive to the struc tural changes of the water, induced by the polarization effects of the polar heads of the micelle surface and the positive counterions and b y the presence of the alcohol.