Effects of monomeric and polymeric glycol additives on micellar properties of Tween non-ionic surfactants as studied by cyclic voltammetry

The cyclic voltammetric measurements were carried out for Tween 20 and Tween 80 in the presence of various glycol oligomers consisting of monomeric glycol to polymeric glycol (triblock polymers) additives. Lower glycol oligomers destabilize the Tween micelles by solubilizing themselves at micelle–solution interface. Triblock polymers stabilize the Tween micelles by forming mixed micelles with enhanced hydrophobicity. The nature of Tween–glycol aggregates is explained on the basis of obstruction effects encountered by electroactive probe molecules.