Gemini surfactants: A distinct class of self-assembling molecules

Abstract

Gemini surfactant is the family of surfactant mole-cules possessing more than one hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head group. These surfactants usually have better surface -active properties than corres pond -ing conventional surfactants of equal chain length. Geminis are used as promising surfactants in indus-tria l detergency and have shown efficiency in skin care, antibacterial property, metal-encapped porphy -ra zine and vesicle formation, construction of high-porosity materials, etc. This review deals with synthesis, structure, critical micellar concentration, surface active properties and uses of geminis.