Supramolecular "leeks" of a fluorinated hybrid amphiphile that self-assembles into a disordered columnar phase.

We report on the formation of unprecedented "leek"-shaped aggregates of an anionic fluoroalkyl sulfonate surfactant (FS) and the supramolecular assembly of these aggregates into a disordered columnar phase (CS). The leeks are formed by wrapping of 2-4 FS-water bilayers of thickness 26-28 Å into 10-20 nm thick and >100 nm long structures, in the concentration regime of 63-70 wt % FS. A lamellar (Lα) lyotropic liquid-crystalline (LLC) phase forms at higher concentration, between 70 and 84 wt %.