Reactions in confined media of reverse wormlike micelles

Reverse wormlike micelles (RWLMs) have been explored as nanoreactors for nanoscale reactions. This research emphasizes the crucial role of solvent selection in determining the nanoarchitecture of RWLMs. Solvent variation not only influences the amount of confined water within the RWLMs but also modulates their properties and structure, particularly the diameter of the aqueous channels. This control enables the formation of RWLMs tailored to the specific requirements of reactions.

Furthermore, this study demonstrates the ability of RWLMs to act as nanoreactors for precipitation, redox, and nucleophilic addition reactions. It shows that the confined aqueous channels provide a stable and controlled environment, ideal for nanoparticle synthesis and nanoscale chemical reactions. Additionally, RWLMs exhibit the ability to manipulate nanoparticle morphology, acting as soft templates.

Initial findings on the kinetics of reactions within RWLM confinement indicate an increase in reaction rates compared to bulk volumes, highlighting the efficiency of these systems as nanoreactors, as reaction rates were significantly higher compared to non-confined reactions.