Temperature dependent cubic and hexagonal close packing in micellar structures

The interfacial structure and phase diagram of a micellar solution formed by the three block copolymer (EO20–PO70–EO20) also known as P123 solved in deuterated water close to a solid boundary is investigated with respect to temperature. We find a hysteretic behavior of the d-spacing of the micellar crystal and a spontaneous change in the lateral correlation length going hand in hand with a structural reorganization between cubic and hexagonal. The phase transitions may be initiated by a change in the shape of the micelles from spherical to elongated together with a minimization of the polymer water interface