Drying dissipative structures of the aqueous solution of sodium n-alkyl sulfates on a cover glass

Macroscopic and microscopic dissipative structural patterns formed in the course of drying a series of the anionic detergents, sodium n-alkyl sulfate (n-alkyl = n-hexyl, n-octyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, n-hexadecyl, and n-octadecyl), on a cover glass have been observed. The broad ring patterns of the hill accumulated with the detergent molecules are formed around the outside edges in the macroscopic scale. The microscopic patterns of the small blocks, star-like patterns, and branched strings are formed. The pattern area and the time for the dryness have been discussed as a function of detergent concentration and the number of carbons of the detergents. The convection flow of water accompanied by the detergent molecules, change in the contact angles at the drying frontier between the solution and substrate in the course of dryness, and interactions among the detergents and substrate are important for macroscopic pattern formation. Microscopic patterns are determined mainly by the shape and size of molecules, translational Brownian movement of detergent molecules, and the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between detergents and/or between the detergent and substrate in the course of solidification.