Semifluorinated alkanes as primitive surfactants in apolar hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon solvents

Abstract We present a short overview of recent studies concerning the surfactant properties of semifluorinated alkanes (SFAs) in apolar hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon solvents. These systems represent structurally primitive analogues of conventional surfactants in oil and water solvents. The surfactant properties of SFAs in hydrocarbons and perfluorocarbons arise from the tendency of hydrocarbon and perfluorocarbon chains to demix. Since this demixing is weaker than that for oil and water mixtures, SFAs are relatively weak surfactants. It is shown that weak surfactant properties are evident from the solubility, adsorption at the hydrocarbon-vapour and hydrocarbon-fluorocarbon interfaces and aggregation behaviour of SFAs.