Absorption spectra of 7, 7, 8, 8-tetracyanoquinodimethane in micellar solutions

Abstract The absorption spectra of 7, 7, 8, 8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) with nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, anionic surfactant, SLS and cationic surfactant, CTAB in aqueous and nonaqueous media have been studied. The spectral studies show that TCNQ forms 1:1 charge-transfer (CT) complex with Triton X-100 in both media. The aqueous solution of TCNQ shows an absorption maxima at 610 nm, which is unperturbed in the presence of SLS but is shifted to 650 nm in the presence of CTAB, indicating the interaction of TCNQ with the cationic surfactant and not with the anionic surfactant. In addition to this, the stability of TCNQ–Triton X-100 complex has been determined and the probable site of CT interaction has been pointed out.