Phase diagram and n.m.r. study of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by lithium perfluoro-octanoate and water

Abstract

The lyotropic liquid crystalline phases formed by the system lithium perfluoro-octanoate and water have been examined by X-ray diffraction and polarising microscopy. The phases formed are complex hexagonal, lamellar and reversed hexagonal. The latter two have structures similar to those formed by hydrocarbon surfactants; the structure of the complex hexagonal phase is less certain. The binding and orientation of water and lithium ions have been measured using n.m.r. quadrupole splittings. The orientation of both bound water and lithium ions is similar in the complex hexagonal and lamellar phases, and is altered in the reversed hexagonal phase.