Despite
the recent advancements in the field of deep eutectic solvents
(DESs), their high viscosity often prevents practical applications.
A versatile strategy to overcome this problem is either to add a co-solvent
or to confine the DES inside a nanoscaled self-organized system. This
work assesses the microstructures of a hydrated and nanoconfined DES
comprising benzyltripropylammonium chloride [BTPA]Cl and ethylene
glycol (EG). They act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and a donor, respectively.
The hydrogen bonding between [BTPA]Cl and EG in the DES (i.e., BTEG)
and the molecular states of water in the hydrated BTEG were studied
by Raman spectroscopy. The results show different hydrogen-bonding
associations between water–water and water–BTEG or EG
molecules. In addition, we investigated the confinement effects of
BTEG in a Polysorbate 80 (Tween-80)/cyclohexane reverse micellar (RM)
system. The results are compared with those of an ionic liquid-encapsulated
RM system. The formation, bonding characteristics, and thermal stability
of the RM droplets were studied by solubilization, dynamic light scattering,
rheology, and Raman spectroscopy experiments. Furthermore, it is shown
that hydrogen bonding between the DES and the surfactant leads to
a stable RM system. Interestingly, the viscosity of the RM system
is significantly lower than that of the neat DES suggesting that DESs
have a much wider practical applicability in the form of RMs.