Self-assembly of a short amphiphile in water controlled by superchaotropic polyoxometalates

Nanometric ions, such as polyoxometalates (POMs) or ionic boron clusters, with low charge density have previously shown a strong propensity to bind to macrocycles and to adsorb to neutral surfaces: micellar, surfactant covered water–air and polymer surfaces. These association phenomena were shown to arise from a solvent-mediated effect called the (super-)chaotropic effect. We show here by combining cloud point (CP) measurements, scattering (SAXS/SANS) and spectroscopic techniques (NMR) that Keggin
POMs: H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀ and H₃PW₁₂O₄₀, induce the self-assembly of an organic solvent: dipropylene glycol n-propylether in water.

pour plus d'information, lire l'article de Philipp Schmid, Thomas Buchecker, Ali Khoshsima, Didier Touraud, Olivier Diat, Werner Kunz, Arno Pfitzner et Pierre Bauduin dans JCIS 587 (2021) 347–357.