Theoretical computational study of micellar systems of alkylbenzenes in diiodomethane

• Grant number: 11/14562-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal researcher: André Farias de Moura
• Grantee: Kalil Bernardino
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project proposes a theoretical-computational investigation of complex chemical systems using molecular dynamics simulations with classical potentials and ab initio electronic structure calculations. The main goal of the project is to study the formation of stable micellar clusters in alkylbenzenes/diiodomethane binary systems, an experimentally observed phenomenon still without a theoretical counterpart describing the details of the structure and the dynamics of the formed clusters. This detailed description can be obtained by means of molecular dynamics simulations with classical potentials, a part of which will be derived from ab initio calculations. This investigation is justifiable by its basic character, that aims to improve our understanding on self-assembling phenomena. The theoretical and experimental literature regarding aggregation colloids is dedicated almost exclusively to the aqueous solutions of amphiphilic solutes. On the one hand, these systems surely deserve that attention due to their technological importance, but in principle any system bearing anisotropic interactions of the solvent with respect to the solute, i.e., a strong interaction to part of the solute molecule (a small head) and a weak interaction to the rest of the molecule (a long tail), can form structures such as micelles, films and membranes. Thus, we propose the detailed study of a system that is apparently simple and yet capable of forming several self-organized structures.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BERNARDINO, KALIL; DE MOURA, ANDRE F. Surface Electrostatic Potential and Water Orientation in the presence of Sodium Octanoate Dilute Monolayers Studied by Means of Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Langmuir, v. 31, n. 40, p. 10995-11004, OCT 13 2015. Web of Science Citations: 5.