Sarah Rogers

Prof. Julian Eastoe

Sarah is a 3rd year PhD student studying micro-phase separating systems. Although she uses a wide variety of characterization techniques her main interest lies in SANS (small angle neutron scattering).

Reactions in Microphase Separating Surfactant Systems

It is well known that fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon materials do not mix [1].  This demixing phenomenon (microphase separation) can be exploited in a system where there is a partially fluorinated structure, such as a micelle, and a solubilised hydrocarbon monomer [2].  The F-C within the micelle drives a local phase separation [3] and this can be used to effect the polymerisation of the monomer, leading to an interesting area of polymer templating. 

A matrix of systems of varying fluorination have been polymerised.  These polymerisations have been followed via ¹H NMR and SANS/SAXS and the final products imaged by TEM.

 An example of this work is the polymerisation of the microemulsion comprising of the surfactant DHCF4 and the oil/monomer butylacrylate (structures of both are given below).  It can be seen from the SANS data below (obtained from the LOQ instrument at ISIS) that the scattering profile of the microemulsion before and after the polymerisation are very similar and therefore that the structure of the micelle has been retained.

References.

[1] P. Lo Nostro, Adv. Colloid Interfac. 56 (1995) 245

[2] M-P. Krafft, et al., Langmuir 17 (2001) 2872

[3] M. Ben Ghoulam, et al., Langmuir 12 (1996) 5048