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Sodium Effect on Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Carboxylates: Formation of Structured Micelles and Superlattices

  1. Karin Rosenlehner Dr.1,
  2. Boris Schade Dr.2,
  3. Christoph Böttcher Dr.2,
  4. Christof M. Jäger Dr.3,4,
  5. Timothy Clark Prof.3,4,
  6. Frank W. Heinemann5,
  7. Andreas Hirsch Prof.1,4

Article first published online: 23 JUL 2010

DOI: 10.1002/chem.201001150

Issue

Chemistry - A European Journal

Chemistry - A European Journal

Special Issue: Conference Issue: 3rd European Chemistry Congress, Nürnberg

Volume 16, Issue 31, pages 9544–9554, August 16, 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rosenlehner, K., Schade, B., Böttcher, C., Jäger, Christof M., Clark, T., Heinemann, Frank W. and Hirsch, A. (2010), Sodium Effect on Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Carboxylates: Formation of Structured Micelles and Superlattices. Chem. Eur. J., 16: 9544–9554. doi: 10.1002/chem.201001150

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Interdisciplinary Center of Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestrasse 42, 91054 Erlangen (Germany), Fax: (+49) 9131-852-6864

  2. 2

    Research Center for Electron Microscopy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 36a, 14195 Berlin (Germany), Fax: (+49) 30-838-56589

  3. 3

    Computer-Chemie-Centrum and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstrasse 25, 91052 Erlangen (Germany), Fax: (+49) 9131-852-6565

  4. 4

    Excellence Cluster “Engineering of Advanced Materials”, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstrasse 49b, 91052 Erlangen (Germany)

  5. 5

    Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstrasse 1, 91058 Erlangen (Germany), Fax: (+49) 9131-852-7367

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 AUG 2010
  2. Article first published online: 23 JUL 2010
  3. Manuscript Received: 30 APR 2010

Funded by

  • DFG
Corrected by:

Corrigendum: Corrigendum: Sodium Effect on Self-Organization of Amphiphilic Carboxylates: Formation of Structured Micelles and Superlattices

Vol. 17, Issue 44, 12228, Article first published online: 17 OCT 2011

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Keywords:

  • aggregation;
  • amphiphiles;
  • dendrimers;
  • micelles;
  • specific-ion effects

Abstract

Not only the self-aggregation of dendritic polycarboxylates into structurally persistent micelles, but also that of the micelles themselves into superlattices is controlled by alkali-metal counterions and shows a pronounced sodium effect. Our combined experimental and computational work has revealed the formation of superlattices for the first time. The behavior of a variety of amphiphilic carboxylates and the different effects of the alkali cations Li+, Na+, and K+ have been investigated by conductivity measurements, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. Together, these show that sodium salts of the amphiphiles give the most stable micelles, followed by lithium and potassium. Our results suggest that ion multiplets in bridging positions, rather than contact ion pairs, are responsible for the enhanced stability and the formation of hexagonally ordered superlattices with sodium counterions. Potassium ions do not form such ion multiplets and cannot therefore induce aggregation of the micelles. This sodium effect has far-reaching consequences for a large number of biological and technical systems and sheds new light on the origin of specific-ion effects.

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