ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

Probing the Structural Incorporation of Ethoxylated Quaternary Cationic Surfactants (EQCS) in Asymmetric Lipid Bilayers by Neutron Reflectivity

Abstract: Cationic surfactants are widely used as disinfectants and antimicrobial agents, yet their effectiveness varies greatly between different types of bacteria. This project investigates how the molecular structure of newly developed ethoxylated quaternary cationic surfactants (EQCS) influences their interaction with bacterial membranes. Using neutron reflectivity, we will visualize how these molecules insert into and disrupt model membranes that mimic Gram-negative bacteria. The results will reveal how small structural changes control surfactant behaviour at the molecular level, guiding the design of safer and more effective antimicrobial agents for healthcare and environmental applications.

Principal Investigator: Dr Peixun Li
Experimenter: Dr Zi Wang
Experimenter: Professor Jeffery Penfold
Experimenter: Dr Bob Thomas
Experimenter: Dr Yao Chen
Local Contact: Dr Oleksandr Tomchuk
Experimenter: Dr Kun Ma
Experimenter: Professor Jordan Petkov
Experimenter: Mr Shilin Deng
Experimenter: Mr kangcheng shen
Experimenter: Mr Shenghui Tu
Experimenter: Dr Mingrui Liao

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610654

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2610654

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
Select the data format above to find out more about it.

Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr Peixun Li et al; (2026): Probing the Structural Incorporation of Ethoxylated Quaternary Cationic Surfactants (EQCS) in Asymmetric Lipid Bilayers by Neutron Reflectivity, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610654

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.