CLOSED AND OPEN STRUCTURE AGGREGATES IN MICROEMULSIONS AND MECHANISM OF PERCOLATIVE CONDUCTION

The electrical conductivity and water self-diffusion coefficients of the oil-continuous microemulsions of Aerosol OT at the onset of the percolation process as well as in the bicontinuous system have been measured. Low self-diffusion coefficients of water indicate that the droplets maintain their "closed" shell structure. It has been concluded from the results that the percolative conduction arises due to the hopping of the charge carriers across the surfactant monolayer of the droplets, and the aggregates open up only at the onset of formation of bicontinuous microemulsions. © 1990 American Chemical Society.