Alcohol-induced structural transformations of surfactant aggregates

Alcohol-induced structural transformations of cetyltrimethylammonium bromid e (CTAB) aggregates adsorbed on mica have been investigated using atomic fo rce microscopy (AFM). A series of alcohols of different chain lengths was u sed to study the effect on surface aggregate structure. In CTAB solutions o f fixed concentration, increasing amounts of alcohol spread the lateral spa cing of the CTAB cylinders adsorbed on mice. At high alcohol concentrations , relative to the alcohol chain length, the surface aggregates changed from a cylindrical to a spherical structure. This structural transformation is explained by hydrophobic interactions between the alcohol and surfactant mi celle.