Effect of hydrotropic salt on the assembly transitions and rheological responses of cationic gemini surfactant solutions.

Cationic gemini surfactant dimethylene-1,2-bis(dodecyldiethylammonium bromide), referred to as C12C2C12(Et), was synthesized. The effect of sodium salicylate (NaSal) on the assembly formation and transition of this cationic gemini surfactant solution was studied. Addition of NaSal induced rich aggregate morphologies in the C12C2C12(Et) system. The microstructures and rheological responses resulting from the addition of NaSal were studied systematically to explore the interaction between gemini surfactants and hydrotropic salts. The rich aggregation behavior can be attributed to the special molecular structure of the gemini surfactant and the appropriate interaction between the surfactant and NaSal. The study of gemini surfactant and hydrotropic salt interaction brings promise for applications in materials synthesis as soft templates.