Nanostructured self-assembly materials formed by non-ionic urea amphiphiles Online publication date: Wed, 30-Jan-2008
by Xiaojuan Gong, Sharon Sagnella, Calum J. Drummond
International Journal of Nanotechnology (IJNT), Vol. 5, No. 2/3, 2008
Abstract: Urea is an extremely versatile molecule that has been widely used for many years in a diverse range of applications. The physicochemical properties of urea have been well studied with respect to the role of hydrogen bonding in biological and chemical systems. Urea-based amphiphiles, in contrast, have received little attention with respect to physicochemical properties. Studies reported in the last few years have demonstrated that specific urea amphiphiles display interesting lyotropic liquid crystalline phase behaviour. These nanostructured self-assembly phases are potential candidates for a number of novel applications. In this work, we review the physicochemical properties of non-ionic urea-based amphiphiles, including those of the solid state, insoluble monolayers residing at the air-water interface, Langmuir-Blodgett films deposited on solid substrates and lyotropic liquid crystalline phases. In addition, we present new data that extends the characterisation of the solid state and lyotropic properties of isoprenoid branched urea surfactants.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Nanotechnology (IJNT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook