Form Factor of Asymmetric Elongated Micelles: Playing with Russian Dolls Has Never Been so Informative

Abstract

Scattering techniques (i.e., static light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, or small angle X-ray scattering) are excellent tools to study nanoscopic objects in solution. However, to interpret the experimental data, one needs to use the appropriate form factor. While recent progress has been made in the writing of form factors for complex structures, there is still a need to develop a method to evaluate the form factor of inhomogeneous elongated scatterers. Here, we propose an approach based on the principle of “Russian dolls”. Multiblock rods are represented as multi generations of rods (mother, daughter, granddaughter, etc.), where each rod is nested within the rod of the previous generation, like Russian dolls. A shift parameter is used to introduce asymmetry in the rod along its long axis. This approach not only allowed us to write the form factor of multiblock rods, but it also gave us the possibility to account for the polydispersity in length of each block and of the shift parameter. Finally, we applied these equations to the case of a series of solutions of triblock comicelles slightly polydisperse in length