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Micelles

Micelles

Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...

Colloids

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

Published on: June 8, 2016

Smart wormlike micelles.

Zonglin Chu¹, Cécile A Dreiss, Yujun Feng

¹Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China.

Chemical Society Reviews

|April 3, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists are developing smart surfactant wormlike micelles that change structure with environmental triggers. These adaptable materials offer versatile applications, from the oil industry to biomedicine.

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Facile Synthesis of Worm-like Micelles by Visible Light Mediated Dispersion Polymerization Using Photoredox Catalyst

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Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control

Published on: February 11, 2018

Area of Science:

Soft Matter Science
Materials Science

Background:

Developing adaptable, nature-inspired materials that dynamically alter structure and function in response to environmental changes is a key scientific challenge.
Smart surfactant wormlike micelles, responsive to external stimuli, represent a promising recent development due to their design simplicity and amphiphilic molecule self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in stimuli-responsive wormlike micelles.
To describe the potential and practical applications of these smart materials.
To identify future challenges in the field.

Main Methods:

Review of published research on stimuli-responsive wormlike micelles.
Analysis of triggering mechanisms (electrical, optical, thermal, pH).
Investigation of structural changes and their impact on macroscopic properties.

Main Results:

Stimuli-responsive wormlike micelles can be switched 'on' and 'off' using various triggers.
Structural changes induce significant variations in macroscopic properties like viscosity and elasticity.
These materials can undergo spontaneous sol-gel transitions.

Conclusions:

Smart wormlike micelles offer significant potential across diverse technological applications, including the oil industry, biomedicine, and cleaning processes.
The versatility and simplicity of these materials make them highly promising for future innovations.
Further research is needed to address future challenges and unlock the full potential of stimuli-responsive wormlike micelles.