Synthesis and Aggregation Behavior of Hexameric Quaternary Ammonium Salt Surfactant Tz-6C(12)QC

A hexameric quaternary ammonium salt surfactant Tz-6C(12)QC featuring a rigid triazine spacer and six ammonium groups was synthesized. The molecular structure and aggregation behavior of Tz-6C(12)QC were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, surface tension, conductivity, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, etc. Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation was employed to investigate the self-assembly behavior of Tz-6C(12)QC at different concentrations. The rheological behavior of the polyacrylamide/Tz-6C(12)QC system was characterized by shear rheology. The results indicated that Tz-6C(12)QC exhibited superior surface activity and lower surface tension compared to conventional surfactants. Rheology analysis revealed that Tz-6C(12)QC had a significant viscosity reduction effect on polyacrylamide. DLS and TEM indicated that, as the concentration of Tz-6C(12)QC increased, monomer associations, spherical aggregations, vesicles, tubular micelles, and bilayer vesicles were sequentially formed in the solution. This study presents a synthetic approach for polysurfactants with a rigid spacer and sheds light on the self-assembly process of micelles.