Vesicle to micelle transitions induced by Coulomb correlations in two dimensions

We present a model for mimicking a two-dimensional coulomb system using mixed cationic-anionic surfactants. A theory for vesicle to micelle transitions is developed by extending the model for lipid-detergent mixtures. It is concluded that the equilibrium concentrations of the dipoles and dissociated ions in the polar regions are the key parameters which bring about the supramolecular transition on varying the temperature. Temperature variations in the turbidity, phase diagram and degree of dissociation are calculated. The turbidity results are found to be in quantitative agreement with experiment.