Use as emulsifying agent, dispersing agent.
Use as foaming agent.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfonate (SLS) Enables High-Performance Polyaniline Dendrites for Energy Storage
Ma, Yong, et al. Polymer 182 (2019): 121808.
Challenge: Developing structured conductive polymers with controlled multidimensional architectures faces limitations in achieving solid-state dendrites featuring high-aspect-ratio branches. Existing methods yield irregular morphologies or require complex processes, hindering electrochemical performance and scalability for energy storage applications.
Solution: Sodium Lauryl Sulfonate (SLS) served as a dynamic soft template to direct the hierarchical self-assembly of polyaniline (PANI). By optimizing SLS concentration and HCl molarity, this work established a low-acid, undisturbed reaction system enabling precise morphological control. SLS micelles orchestrated the spontaneous organization of 1D nanofibrils into complex dendritic superstructures.
Synthesis: Dissolved SDS (0.10g) in 0.010M HCl (90mL), added aniline monomer (0.30mL) under ultrasonic dispersion, started polymerization with the addition of ammonium persulfate oxidant, and kept the reaction in static state for 10h at room temperature.
Key Results:
· Morphological Precision: Generated solid dendrites with high-aspect-ratio branches (Length: 4.1-11.5 μm; Diameter: 0.30-1.2 μm).
· Electrochemical Excellence: Achieved specific capacitance of 204 F·g-1 at 0.50 A·g-1 in 1.0M H2SO4 electrolyte.
· Process Advantages: Eliminated need for organic acids/surfactant gels while enabling room-temperature synthesis.
Sodium Laurylsulfonate (SLS) Enables High-Efficiency Europium Decontamination in Nuclear Wastewater
Wang, Jian, et al. Journal of Molecular Liquids 316 (2020): 113846.
Challenge: Radioactive europium (Eu3+) contamination from nuclear operations requires rapid, selective removal solutions. Conventional adsorbents lack the combination of high binding affinity, pH tolerance, and coexisting ion resistance needed for practical wastewater treatment.
Solution: Sodium Laurylsulfonate (SLS) was engineered as a critical surface modifier for silicon dioxide (SiO2), creating SLS/SiO2 composite spheres. The anionic sulfonate groups of SLS provided: targeted europium binding sites through strong surface complexation; monolayer adsorption capacity unaffected by competing ions; pH-dependent charge tuning for selective capture.
Synthesis: The synthesis involved hydrolyzing tetraethoxysilane in ethanol/ammonia solution, incorporating 0.2g SLS during SiO2 formation, 12-hour reaction ensuring SLS integration into spherical matrices, and washing to remove unbound surfactant.
Key Results:
· High Capacity: Achieved 52.5 mg/g Eu3+ adsorption at pH 5.0 (298K).
· Rapid Kinetics: Reached equilibrium in 120 minutes - critical for emergency response.
· Selective Performance: Functionality across pH range and unaffected by coexisting ions.
· Mechanistic Advantage: Monolayer surface complexation preserved composite integrity.
Sodium Laurylsulfonate Enables Ultra-Thin Microcapsules for Advanced Electrophoretic Displays
Wu, Gang, et al. Current Applied Physics 11.3 (2011): 321-326.
Challenge: Developing microcapsules for electrophoretic displays requires ultra-thin yet robust walls to ensure optical clarity and prevent core leakage. Conventional coacervation methods struggle to achieve sub-micron wall thickness while maintaining structural integrity during thermal cycling.
Solution: Sodium Laurylsulfonate (SLS) was engineered as a molecular mediator in gelatin/odium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) microcapsules. At precisely 1.0 mM concentration (below critical micellar concentration), SLS catalyzed polymer complexation via enhanced electrostatic bridging, enabled uniform wall knitting through pH-triggered self-assembly, facilitated 200nm ultra-thin wall formation.
Synthesis: Microcapsule synthesis involved dispersing tetrachloroethylene core in NaCMC solution (45°C), adding SLS-enhanced gelatin solution under precise pH control, inducing coacervation via acetic acid titration (pH 5.0 → 4.2), and thermally cycling to 10°C with glutaraldehyde crosslinking.
Key Results:
· Stable, elastic and optically transparent GE/NaCMC/SLS microcapsules with ultrathin capsule wall thickness of 200nm and tetrachloroethylene as the core were successfully prepared.
· SLS regulates capsule formation by adjusting the amount of NaCMC adsorbed at the water/oil interface.
· Excessive SLS will cause defects in the microcapsule wall, and when the SLS concentration is higher than 2.0 mM, stable microcapsules cannot be formed.