Lα to L3 : a topology driven transition in phases of infinite fluid membranes

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Abstract
The structure of the anomalous isotropic phase L3 in the system cetylpyridinium chloride/hexanol/brine is discussed on the basis of neutron scattering data. On a local scale, the basic building unit is the same bilayer as in the neighbouring swollen lamellar phase Lα. On a larger scale, the data suggest a bicontinuous topology where the infinite bilayer separates two interwoven equivalent self connected brine domains. It is argued that the Lα to L3 structural transformation is mainly triggered by variations of the saddle splay rigidity K of the bilayer, K being determined by the spontaneous curvature of each constituting monolayer. This plausible mechanism is checked against the general phase behavior of the system and additional light scattering data collected in the L3 phase at various dilutions