Microemulsions are complex fluids with nanoscale domains of oil and water separated and stabilized by surfactants and co-surfactants. The potential applications of these systems are wide-ranging and include their use as novel electrolytes for redox flow batteries. Rational tuning of microemulsions for their optimization in different functional forms requires molecular-level understanding of their micro-environments. Using multiple, complementary fluorescence techniques and multiple small molecule probes with varying structure, we study both local behavior and bulk phenomena as a function of systematic compositional changes. Localization is mediated by surfactant coordination, and hydration of the surfactant layer is correlated with the overall fluid change from bicontinuous to droplet formation. In addition, this work is being extended to look at the influence of a solid substrate on the nanoscale environments in these fluids and to other related systems including deep eutectic solvents.

Localization and dynamic patterns in microemulsions

ACS Spring 2022

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