ABSTRACT
We have investigated the phase behavior of the R(F)(7)(EO)(8) surfactant in water as well as the effect of the solubilization of various fluorocarbons in this system. Results show that the cloud point (CP) curve is shifted to high temperatures upon addition of fluorocarbons, following the sequence 1-bromo-perfluorooctane (PFOB) < perfluorodecalin (PFD) < perfluorooctane (PFO). The values of the phase inversion temperature (PIT) associated with these systems increase in the same order: PFOB approximately 65 degrees C, PFD approximately 82 degrees C, and PFO > 90 degrees C. Starting from these systems, we have prepared mesoporous and hierarchical porous materials. The formation of the ordered mesoporous materials has been related to the CP curve. Indeed, our results show that mesoporous materials with a high degree of ordering are obtained from systems whose CP curve is shifted toward high temperatures. We have also correlated the formation of the hierarchical porous silica to the PIT. It appears that the design of macro-mesoporous materials is favored with systems that exhibit a high value of the PIT.
ABSTRACT
We have investigated the phase behavior of a fluorinated surfactant R(7)(F)(EO)(7) in water. The cloud point is situated at 19 degrees C for 2 wt% of surfactant. Using this surfactant, mesoporous materials have been synthesized with micellar solution prepared either at 10 degrees C (below the cloud point) or at 40 degrees C (above the cloud point). Results show that whatever the syntheses conditions, only wormhole-like structure is recovered. The effect of perfluorodecalin addition on the fluorinated surfactant/water system was also investigated. Swollen micelles, microemulsion, and lamellar (L(alpha)) liquid crystals were identified. When perfluorodecalin is added, the cloud point is shifted toward higher temperature. As regards the mesoporous syntheses, perfluorodecalin plays a dual role. First, incorporation of perfluorodecalin leads to the formation of well ordered materials. Secondly, the pore size enlargement occurs when perfluorodecalin is added. Our results evidence that the ratio between the volume of the hydrophilic headgroup (V(H)) and the hydrophobic part (V(L)) of the surfactant is not an efficiency parameter to explain the ordering improvement of mesoporous materials and that we should rather consider the existence of the cloud point curve, which disturbs the cooperative templating mechanism (CTM).
