Abstract:Bola amphiphiles (ArN-n-NAr, n = 4, 6, 8, 10) with quaternary ammonium headgroups have been synthesized. Results show considerable enhancement in the efficiency (C20) and the effectiveness (cmc) in surface tension reduction as well as the ability of micelle formation (cmc) in the mixed aqueous solutions. The minimum C20 value (0.076 mmol/L(n=4), 0.048 mmol/L(n=6), 0.046 mmol/L(n=8) and 0.026 mmol/L(n=10)) was obtained at 1=0.33 (1 represents the molar fraction of ArN-n-NAr) in the mixed aqueous solution. Compared with the pure SDS solution, the cmc of the mixed systems show significant decrease. For the ArN-10-NAr/SDS system, the cmc was decreased more than 9 times (from 2.40 mmol/L to 0.26 mmol/L). The length of ArN-n-NAr spacer in mixed solution was 0.635 nm (n=4), 0.889 nm (n=6), 1.143 nm (n=8) and 1.397 nm (n=10). The outer surface of the mixed adsorption layer at the air/water interface was totally composed by SDS while ArN-n-NAr was arranged at the sublayer neighboring the outside. The ArN-n-NAr molecules adopted lying (for n=4, 6, 8) or perpendicular (for n=10) pattern according to the spacer length between the two headgroups of Bola amphiphiles.