AbstractPolyethylene trisiloxane surfactants M(D′En)M (n=6, 8, 10, 12) self assemble into sheet-like structure and form various lyotropic cubic, hexagonal and lamellar liquid crystal phases in ternary trisiloxane surfactant - silicone oil - water systems. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to identify and characterize the liquid crystal phases. Cyclic octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethyl-cyclopentasiloxane(D5) and short linear decamethyltetrasiloxane (MD2M) silicone oils facilitate the formation of liquid crystals. The structures in liquid crystals (LC) progress from zero curvature lamellar liquid crystals to higher curvature cubic liquid crystals with increasing the surfactant hydrophilic head group size. The effects of surfactant and oil concentration on the lamellar bilayer thickness and molecular packing were studied with small angle X-ray scattering.
Elucidating the structure of liquid crystal phases using resonant X-ray scattering