ABSTRACT
The interest in studies of diffusional processes in microemulsions has grown rapidly. The reasons are an increased number of available techniques providing easily interpretable data and the realization that self-diffusion data give unique information on the molecular organization and structure of microemulsions. Self-diffusion is the result of the thermal motion-induced random-walk process experienced by particles or molecules in solution. Solubilizates necessarily perturb the basic micellar structure and may, at elevated con centrations, ultimately induce phase transitions. Lamellar mesophases typically form in water-surfactant systems upon addition of medium to long-chain alcohols to a solution of surfactant in water. Data on molecular diffusion in lyotropic liquid crystals nicely demonstrate relations be tween diffusional rates and phase structure. Aqueous nonionic surfactants of the oligo type have been studied rather extensively to provide information on micelle size, shape, hydration, and intermicellar interactions.
