SURFACTANT SELF-ASSEMBLY

CMC · packing parameter · micelle dynamics · sphere → cylinder → bilayer
Packing Parameter
P = v / (a₀·l_c)
v = tail volume
a₀ = head area, l_c = critical length

P < ⅓ → spherical micelle
⅓ < P < ½ → cylindrical
½ < P < 1 → vesicle/bilayer
P ≈ 1 → flat bilayer
P > 1 → inverted phases

At CMC:
Surface tension breaks slope
Conductivity kink (ionic)
Pyrene fluorescence shift