The Structure and Thermodynamic Stability of Reverse Micelles in Dry AOT/Alkane Mixtures

Abstract: Monte Carlo simulation studies of reverse micelles of an anionic surfactant, sodium AOT, in a non-polar solvent provide strong evidence that, in the absence of water, these clusters are charge ordered polyhedral shells. The stabilizing energy of these clusters is so large that the entropy of mixing is, in comparison, inconsequential and we predict that, if all waters of hydration could be removed (something not yet accomplished for the sodium salt) then AOT would be insoluble in nonpolar solvents.