Electric-field-driven surface aggregation of a model zwitterionic surfactant

Electrochemical measurements, atomic force microscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy have been combined to describe the electric-field-controlled surface aggregation of N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (DDAPS), a model zwitterionic surfactant, at a Au(111) electrode surface. At concentrations below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the monomer adsorbs and aggregates at the surface. The charge on the metal (sigma(M)) controls the orientation of adsorbed molecules and consequently the film structure. At high negative (sigma(M) < -5 mu C cm(-2)) charge densities, a spongy, disordered film is formed in which the polar heads are turned toward the solution. At high positive (sigma(M) > +5 mu C cm(-2)) charge densities, a planar film with blisters is observed with the polar heads of DDAPS turned to the metal. Hemicylindrical aggregates are observed in the intermediate charge density range (-5 < sigma(M) < +5 mu C cm(-2)). At bulk concentrations higher than the CMC, micelles adsorb and the structure of these films is controlled by the fusion of the adsorbed micelles. STM and AFM images provided direct visualization of this field-driven surface aggregation of the zwitterionic surfactant.