Responsive and evolving mixtures of a hydrolyzing cationic surfactant and oppositely charged polyelectrolytes

The structures of concentrated phases formed in mixtures of an anionic polyelectrolyte and the cationic surfactant decyl betainate (DeB) in water were changed in situ via the hydrolysis of the latter. Degradation of DeB yields decanol, and as the fraction of alcohol increases the structure of the concentrated phase evolves from cubic to hexagonal and then lamellar. We present “self-evolving” as well as responsive systems and in addition to macroscopic liquid crystalline phases, particles and highly swelling gels are discussed.