The
photoresponsive wormlike micelles constructed by Gemini surfactants
and cinnamate derivatives play a great role in the field of smart
materials. However, how the structure of cinnamate derivatives affects
the photoresponsive behavior of micelles is still a hotspot for scientists
to research. Here, three kinds of aromatic salts with different ortho-substituted
groups including trans-o-methoxy
cinnamate (trans-OMCA), trans-o-hydroxy cinnamate (trans-OHCA), and trans-cinnamate (trans-CA) were introduced
into Gemini surfactant 12-3-12·2Br– aqueous
solutions to construct photoresponsive wormlike micelles through their
noncovalent interactions. Their properties were researched using the
rheological method, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, and 1H NMR and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectra.
The results show that these cinnamate derivatives could well construct
wormlike micelles with 12-3-12·2Br–. Furthermore,
subtle differences in the ortho substituents’ structure have
a significant effect on the photoresponsive behavior of formed wormlike
micelles. Specifically, the zero viscosity (η0) of
40 mM 12-3-12·2Br–/24 mM trans-OHCA mixed solution decreases from 26.72 to 2.6 Pa·s with the
shortening of the length of wormlike micelles after UV irradiation.
Correspondingly, the η0 for the same ratio of 12-3-12·2Br–/trans-OMCA decreases from 2.42 to
0.06 Pa·s and the wormlike micelles are transited into rodlike
micelles and even spherical micelles after the same UV irradiation
time. However, the variation of wormlike micelles in the 12-3-12·2Br–/trans-CA system induced by UV light
is not obvious with η0 being maintained at around
2.89 Pa·s. This study will help us better understand the effects
of chemical groups on macrophenomena and microinteraction for micellar
systems. It provides a theoretical basis for the construction of photoresponsive
micelles, thus widening their application in the field of soft materials.