Isotropic phases of bilayers

✍ Scribed by Grégoire Porte

• Book ID: 104394924
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 553 KB
• Volume: 1
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1359-0294
• DOI: 10.1016/s1359-0294(96)80131-2

✦ Synopsis

membranes. The starting point for such analyses is the microscopic elasticity of a fluid film, described by the harmonic bending energy [3]: in whichC and K are the film's mean and Gaussian curvatures, respectively, K and K are the mean and Gaussian rigidities, respectively, Co is the spontaneous curvature of the film and dA the area element. C is equal to C 1 +Cz and K is equal to C1Cz, where C 1 and C z are the principle curvatures. For a bilayer built up from two identical monolayers, Co is zero by symmetry. The integral over Gaussian curvature is directly related, by the Gauss-Bonnet theorem,

The bending properties of surfactant bilayers are the foundation for the formation and stability of the so-called L 3 sponge phase. During the past two years, improved theoretical interpretations and models of this fascinating multiconnected disordered structure have been worked out. On the experimental side, critical behaviours observed in the very dilute region have been explored, leaving the issue of the topological transition of the L 3 phase towards disconnected micelles unresolved. Comparatively little attention has focused on the dynamics and rheology of the sponge.