Synergistic solubilization of decafluorobiphenyl by micelles of fluorocarbon surfactants

Abstract Solubilization of decafluorobiphenyl (FBIP) by surfactants in aqueous solution was examined to investigate the properties of micelles composed of surfactants having a per‐fluorocarbon chain. Fluorocarbon surfactants solubilize FBIP better than hydrocarbon surfactants. Significant solubilization by fluorocarbon surfactants was observed upon addition of salt. Highly synergistic solubilization of FBIP using surfactant mixtures was also observed for fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactants in the presence of salt. The high solubilization ability of surfactants can be attributed to micelle growth. A simple geometrical consideration of molecular packing in micelles revealed that the characteristic micelle is composed of bulky fluorocarbon chains. The solubilization behavior accompanied by micelle growth would be closely associated with a change in interfacial contact area between the micelle core and bulk water. The behavior of fluorescence intensity of micelle‐solubilized FBIP also indicated a change in micropolarity of fluorocarbon micelles accompanied by micelle growth.