Sophorolipids: a yeast-derived glycolipid as greener structure directing agents for self-assembled nanomaterials

Sophorolipids, fully natural glycolipids, can form in water nanometre-size micelles of various geometries depending on their concentration as shown by small angle neutron scattering experiments. This property allows use of them, for the first time, as structure directing agents in the synthesis of nanostructured silica thin films via the evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) process