Curvature-related molecular segregation in lyotropic aggregates of potassium palmitate and benzyl alcohol: A 2H NMR study

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Abstract
The ternary system potassium palmitate/benzyl alcohol/water has been studied by 2H NMR of selectively 2H labeled amphiphiles. At low temperatures the samples comprise a mixture of cylindrical aggregates (Rα) and pure potassium palmitate gel (Lβ), which transforms first to a liquid crystalline ribbon phase (RBα) and then a lamellar (Lα) phase with increasing temperature. The ribbon phase exhibits strong molecular segregation of the benzyl alcohol molecules into the curved edge of the ribbons. The results enable quantitative measurements of the molecular segregation to be made. The presence of phase transitions within the low temperature cylindrical aggregates and high temperature lamellar phases is also reported.