Transition from a nonionic to an ionic micelle

Abstract

The present paper was motivated by an attempt to understand the transition from a nonionic to an ionic micelle from both the experimental and theoretical points of view. Small-angle neutron-scattering experiments were performed on mixed micelles of nonionic-ionic surfactants as the charge was increased in steps. Evidence for the charge condensation on the surface of the micelles is obtained. An extension of the sticky-hard-sphere model to include the Coulomb potentials is presented and used to analyze experimental results on two systems. It is concluded that this model is more appropriate than the currently used models.