Title: Nanostructured self-assembly materials formed by non-ionic urea amphiphiles

Authors: Xiaojuan Gong, Sharon Sagnella, Calum J. Drummond

Addresses: CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, P.O. Box 184, North Ryde, New South Wales 1670, Australia. ' CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, P.O. Box 184, North Ryde, New South Wales 1670, Australia. ' CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies, Private Bag 10, Clayton, Victoria 3169, Australia; CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Private Bag 33, Clayton South MDC, Vic 3169, Australia

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.

Keywords: urea surfactants; urea amphiphiles; self assembly; liquid crystal; lyotropic liquid crystalline phases; nanoscale; nanostructured materials; hexosomes; inverse hexagonal phase; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; Australia; non-ionic amphiphiles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2008.016924

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2008 Vol.5 No.2/3, pp.370 - 392

Published online: 30 Jan 2008 *

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