Junctions and end-caps in self-assembled non-ionic cylindrical micelles

Cylindrical micelles are known to exhibit two types of morphologies: branched networks and linear, worm-like (or thread-like) micelles. These structures correspond to two types of topological defects: end-caps and junction points. Although either type of defect increases the micelle energy (when compared to the cylindrical sections), they are stabilized by an increase in the translational (end-caps) or configurational (junctions) entropy. End-caps reduce the length of the cylindrical micelles, resulting in a suspension of linear, worm-like micelles. Y-junction branch points cause the formation of a network structure that may percolate and coexist thermodynamically with a “sol” of finite cylinders with end-caps. In this paper, we review current experimental and theoretical studies of non-ionic cylindrical micelles in aqueous solutions. We focus on single and multicomponent amphiphiles, and consider both small molecules and macromolecules (polymers), in order to identify the driving forces that determine the type of topological ‘defect’ and the resulting system morphology.