Inorganic small particle formation in lyotropic liquid crystals

ABSTRACT Inorganic small particles were obtained by the chemical reaction of CUSO4 and urea in aqueous solution, anionic AOT-water and cationic CTAB-hexanol-water lamellar liquid crystals. X-ray diffraction and IR spectrum showed that different product were obtained from different systems. The product were CU4(OH)6SO4 for aqueous solution, an inorganic mixture for CTAB system and microcrystal containing organic groups for AOT system. The the products formed in liquid crystals are particles or sheet in shape and have narrow size distribution. Particle size increased with reaction time, but the rate of growth of the particle in aqueous solution is faster than in liquid crystals. Comparing the average diameter of the particles formed in three systems, the size was reduced in the following order: D(water)>D(CTAB-hexanol-water)>D(AOT-water).