Micro-heterogeneity versus clustering in binary mixtures of ethanol with water or alkanes

• DOI: 10.1039/c6cp04676b
• Publication Date: 2016-08-03T16:00:11Z
• Authors: Martina Požar; Bernarda Lovrinčević; Larisa Zoranić; Tomislav Primorać; Franjo Sokolić; Aurélien Perera
• Keywords: Structure factor

Ethanol is a hydrogen bonding liquid. When mixed in small concentrations with water or alkanes, it forms aggregate structures reminiscent of, respectively, the direct and inverse micellar aggregates found emulsions, albeit at much smaller sizes. At higher concentrations, micro-heterogeneous mixing segregated domains found. We examine how different statistical methods, namely correlation function analysis, structure factor analysis cluster distribution can describe efficiently these morphological changes mixtures. In particular, we explain neat alcohol pre-peak of evolves into domain under conditions, this evolution differs whether co-solvent alkane. This study clearly establishes heuristic superiority function/structure to micro-heterogeneity, since insensitive segregation. Correlation functions detect domains, clear signature, while techniques hierarchy within domains. The main conclusion that, micro-segregated mixtures, more fundamental entity than underlying structures. These findings could help better understand comparatively radiation scattering experiments, which are sensitive versus spectroscopy-NMR clusters.