Combined effect of temperature and electrolyte on triton X-100 micellar diffusion

The self-diffusion coefficients (D-s) of Triton X-100 micelles have been de termined voltammetrically as a function of KCl concentration and temperatur e. Normalised diffusion coefficients (D(s)eta (o)/T) were found to decrease linearly with increasing [KCl] at fixed temperatures over the range 288-31 3 K due to electrolyte induced micellar growth. D(s)eta (o)/T was also foun d to decrease with increasing temperature due to temperature-induced micell ar growth although the temperature-dependent intermicellar interaction para meters were found to decrease with increasing temperature suggesting increa sing attractive interactions at higher temperatures where as the interactio n parameter increases with [KCl]. An electrolyte concentration dependent tr ansition (suppression of D(s)eta (o)/T was observed at temperatures below t he onset of extensive micellar growth and appears to be unrelated to the us ual phase separation behaviour frequently observed and may possibly be rela ted to a significant increase in polydispersity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.