The present study was undertaken to unveil the self-assembly of a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids based nonionic amphiphile known as Akypo® RO90 VG (hereafter written as Akypo) in aqueous medium using cloud point (CP), solution viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. Surfactants belonging to Akypo family have an average formula C_xEO_yCH₂COOH (i = 8–18, j = 2.5–10) [1]. The surfactant micellizes in aqueous media analogous to conventional surfactants but with some dissimilarity. The influence of external stimuli viz. temperature, pH and electrolyte has been examined to assess the response on the microstructural changes in micelles. SANS experiments provided the exact size and shape of micelles; the micellar growth proposed by high solution viscosity and hydrodynamic diameter (D_h) of micelles from DLS and further reinforced by SANS data. This further divulges that increase of temperature and addition of electrolyte persuade the ellipsoidal to worm-like micellar transition. Change of pH towards an alkaline medium favors the transformation of ellipsoidal micelles into spherical ones which can be correlated with deprotonation of carboxylic acid groups that results in increased solubility of Akypo. The current study authorizes how the size of Akypo micelles can effortlessly be amended in the presence of external stimuli to the desired extent.

本研究旨在揭示基于聚氧乙烯烷基醚羧酸的非离子两亲物 Akypo® RO90 VG（以下称为 Akypo）在水性介质中的自组装，使用浊点 (CP)、溶液粘度、动态光散射（ DLS)、小角度中子散射 (SANS) 测量。属于 Akypo 家族的表面活性剂的平均分子式为 C _x EO _y CH ₂COOH (i = 8–18, j = 2.5–10) [1]。表面活性剂在类似于常规表面活性剂的水性介质中胶束化，但有一些不同。外部刺激的影响，即。已检查温度、pH 值和电解质以评估对胶束微观结构变化的响应。SANS 实验提供了胶束的确切大小和形状；由高溶液粘度和流体动力学直径（D _h) 来自 DLS 的胶束，并由 SANS 数据进一步加强。这进一步揭示了温度的升高和电解质的添加促使椭圆体向蠕虫状胶束转变。pH 值向碱性介质的变化有利于椭圆形胶束转变为球形胶束，这可能与羧酸基团的去质子化相关，导致 Akypo 的溶解度增加。目前的研究授权如何在存在外部刺激的情况下毫不费力地将 Akypo 胶束的大小修改到所需的程度。