FIGURE 7.

Schematic representation of our kinetic model of the micelle-to-vesicle transition. The fundamental steps and their typical timescales are shown: rapid formation of disklike intermediate micelles, successive growth of these micelles up to the critical radius r^* followed by their closure to form vesicles. Ripening of these vesicles to their equilibrium size was not observed, but might occur on a very long timescale. Under certain conditions growth and closure might become slower than stacking, which could lead to the formation of lamellar phase as the end state.