Role of Butanol as a Cosurfactant in Micromeulsion: A molecular dynamic study
Damilola Ojedeji
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee
This page shows visualizations of the Toluene/Water/Tween20/Butanol interfacial systems.
Cosurfactants play a pivotal role in the formation of microemulsions utilized as electrolytes in redox flow batteries. Understanding the functions performed by cosurfactants in shaping microemulsions with desired characteristics is crucial. Herein, I present a molecular dynamics simulation aimed at elucidating the effects of butanol, serving as a cosurfactant, within a toluene/tween20/water microemulsion system. My findings demonstrate that the interfacial tension between water and toluene diminishes as the number of butanol increases, which is attributed to the formation of hydrogen bonds between butanol and water molecules. Additionally, the incorporation of butanol enhances the local mobility of surfactant molecules at the interface. These insights offer valuable guidance for the formulation of microemulsions tailored for application as electrolytes in redox flow batteries.
Interactive Structures
Color Legend:
- blue = Oxygen
- red = Carbon
- white = Hydrogen
References
1. Tang, X.; Huston, K. J.; Larson, R. G. Molecular dynamics simulations of structure property relationships of Tween 80 surfactants in water and at interfaces. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2014, 118, 12907–12918, doi: 10.1021/jp507499k
posted: March 2024.
updated: March 2024.