| abstract |
The invention relates to a novel surfactant of general formula (I): Z-Azo-X-R, where: Azo is the azobenzene group having a cis or trans configuration; Z is a phenyl group, a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched alkyl chain comprising n 2 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group in which the alkyl chain can be saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched, and comprises n 2 carbon atoms, n 2 being between 1 and 10, preferably between 2 and 5; X is -(CH 2 ) m -, -O(CH 2 ) m -, -NH-CO(CH 2 ) m -, -CO-O(CH 2 ) m -, -NH-CO-NH-(CH 2 ) m - or -O-CO-NH-(CH 2 ) m -, where m is less than 15, preferably less than 10; and R is -N + [(R 7 ) 2 R 8 ]Y - , a carboxylate group, a sulphate group, a sulfonate group, a phosphocholine group (-OPO 2 -O-CH 2 -CH 2 -N + (Me) 3 ), a sulfocholine group (-OSO 2 -O-CH 2 -CH 2 -N + (Me) 3 ) or a sulfobetaine group, such as -N + (R 9 ) 2 C p H 2p+1 S0 3 n - or -N + (R 9 ) 2 C p H 2p+1 COO - or -(O-CH 2 -CH 2 ) q -OH. The invention also relates to compositions including such a surfactant. The invention further relates to methods that use the surfactant according to the invention in order to form, stabilise, and destabilise a dispersion using light. |