Two routes to vesicle formation: Metal-ligand complexation and ionic interactions

Two routes for the production of vesicles, metal-ligand complexation and ionic interactions, were studied. It was observed that in the aqueous mixtures of tetradecyldimethylamine oxide and zinc 2,2-dihydroperfluorooctanoate, vesicle-phases can be obtained due to complexation between the anionic surfactant with Zn²⁺ as counteranion and the amine-oxide group of tetradecyldimethylamine oxide. The ZnS precipitates with ring-shaped precipitates, and spherical associated ZnS particles, and rings with encapsulated ZnS precipitates were also obtained. The present routes to form vesicles solved the problem of preparing nanomaterials using surfactant self-assembly, with structure controlled by the phase behavior of the surfactants.