Synthesis, characterization and properties of novel nonionic hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon hybrid surfactants containing a short fluoroalkyl chain

A series of novel nonionic hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon hybrid surfactants (Hm-Fn, where m = 10, 12, 14, 16 and n = 4, 6, respectively) were successfully synthesized using polyethylene glycol, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), short chain fluoroalkyl alcohol and alkyl alcohol as starting materials. The preparation process involves the coupling reaction of isocyanate and hydroxyl groups. The surface activity and aggregation behavior of Hm-Fn in aqueous solution were studied by surface tension, steady-state fluorescence and dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence of the hydrophobic (hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon) chain length on surface activity of such hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon hybrid surfactants was systematically investigated. Micromorphology analysis revealed the presence of different sizes vesicles in H16-F6 and H16-F4 aqueous solution. In addition, the hydrophobic dye solubilization experiments exhibited that H16-F6 with a relatively longer fluorocarbon chain and hydrocarbon chain possessed more outstanding solubilization of model dye (Sudan I) compared with other Hm-Fn and conventional hydrocarbon surfactants. The molar solubilization power of H16-F6 could reach 0.0537. The above results demonstrated that these nonionic hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon hybrid surfactants might possess potential application prospects for hydrophobic dyes solubilization.