New low surface energy surfactants at oil-water interfaces

Despite their super efficiency and industrial relevancy, severe environmental and human-health threats of fluorinated surfactants (FSURFS) are apparent1,2. Dichain trimethylsilyl (TMS) hedgehog surfactants (Figure 1) are credible replacements for FSURFS as chemically stable, environmentally benign super-efficient 21st century surfactants3. The aqueous aggregation and surface properties of TMS-hedgehogs have been explored3; however, their role in stabilizing liquid-liquid interfaces (i.e. emulsifiers) is very little studied. Contrast-variation SANS experiments are proposed here in order to understand structure-performance relationships of TMS hedgehog-films at typical oil-water interfaces - using water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions (μEs) as model systems.