INTERACTION OF SLIGHTLY CROSS-LINKED GELS OF POLY(DIALLYLDIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE) WITH SODIUM DODECYL-SULFATE - DIFFUSION OF SURFACTANT IONS IN GEL

The dynamics of the changing microenvironment of the fluorescent probe pyrene in slightly cross-linked networks of poly (diallyldimethylammo nium bromide) during diffusion of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the gel phase has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Values o f the spectral ratio I3/I1 for pyrene monomer included in SDS micelles in the swollen networks fall between the corresponding values for pyr ene in water and for pyrene dissolved in SDS micelles in aqueous solut ion. In the narrow interval of the surfactant concentrations in the ge l phase, the formation of pyrene excimers is observed. The values of t he critical micelle concentration in the gel phase (ca. 5 X 10(-4) to 8 X 10(-4) mol/L) are tenfold lower than in aqueous solutions of the s urfactant. The effective micellar diffusion coefficient D in the gel p hase increases with increasing swelling of the network. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.