Abstract The development and the ability of an optical integrated polymeric resonator, acting as a surface light probe, for monitoring temperature-induced supramolecular phase transitions is presented in this work. The homogeneous detection of the transitions between different self-assembled structures in an aqueous solution of fatty acids (12-hydroxystearic acid, in association with amino-pentanol) was studied by investigating the coupling between the solution and the integrated photonic micro-cavity. Tuning the self-organized assemblies of surfactant is very attractive for many applications, such as cosmetic products, food, drug delivery and medical, and the development of alternative tools – especially those requiring minute amount of solution – to monitor their structural changes are essential. These original studies at temperatures ranging from 17 to 24 °C, based on a statistical treatment of optical resonance spectra, have evidenced the thermoresponsive nature of the optical features, and that different regimes occur with temperature. The optical results were corroborated with the measurement of the solution viscosity as a function of temperature, confirming that we can ascribe the optically-detected regimes to a surfactant assembly shifting reversibly from a tubular shape to a micellar one. The comparison between the optical and the rheological responses showed different accuracies: while the viscosity data exhibited a rather smooth and monotonous transition, the behavior changes were sharper and non-monotonous in terms of optical properties, allowing us to unambiguously identify in intermediate regime between 18.5 and 20 °C. These morphological transition experiments represent a unique opportunity to extend the numbers of available techniques studying these systems through integrated optical techniques with potential opportunities of real time detection and working on low sampling volume.

中文翻译：

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用于监测脂肪酸表面活性剂溶液超分子热响应行为的微光子学

摘要 本文介绍了作为表面光探针的光学集成聚合物谐振器的发展和能力，用于监测温度诱导的超分子相变。通过研究溶液与集成光子微腔之间的耦合，研究了脂肪酸（12-羟基硬脂酸，与氨基-戊醇）水溶液中不同自组装结构之间转变的均匀检测。调整表面活性剂的自组织组装对于许多应用非常有吸引力，例如化妆品、食品、药物输送和医疗，并且开发替代工具——尤其是那些需要微量溶液的工具——以监测其结构变化是必不可少的。这些基于光学共振光谱统计处理在 17 至 24 °C 温度范围内进行的原始研究证明了光学特征的热响应性质，并且随着温度发生不同的状态。光学结果与作为温度函数的溶液粘度的测量得到证实，证实我们可以将光学检测机制归因于表面活性剂组件从管状形状可逆地转变为胶束形状。光学和流变响应之间的比较显示出不同的准确度：虽然粘度数据表现出相当平滑和单调的过渡，但就光学特性而言，行为变化更加尖锐且非单调，使我们能够明确识别 18.5 之间的中间状态和 20°C。