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China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics ›› 2026, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (1): 8-16.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2097-2806.2026.01.002

• Lecture of science and technology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Viscoelastic surfactants (I)Evolution of micelles and discovery of wormlike micelles

Yujun Feng*()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Polymer Materials, Polymer Research Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
  • Received:2026-01-21 Online:2026-01-22 Published:2026-02-05
  • Contact: E-mail: yjfeng@scu.edu.cn.

Abstract:

The diverse functionalities of surfactants, including emulsification, dispersion, wetting, foaming, and cleaning, are closely linked to the micellar structures formed in solution, where morphology, size, and aggregation govern macroscopic behavior and utility. This review outlines the century-long development of micellar science, tracing its progression from initial concepts to modern functional design. A key advance was the identification and characterization of wormlike micelles, first inferred from unexpected viscosity and viscoelasticity in certain surfactant systems. This discovery led to viscoelastic surfactant (VES) systems, in which surfactants combine with counterions or additives to create entangled networks with notable elasticity and shear-responsive properties. Such systems have driven industrial advances, particularly as clean fracturing fluids in petroleum engineering, and extended into emerging applications like drug delivery, smart materials, and green chemistry. In summary, the article surveys the historical pathway of micellar science, emphasizing pivotal conceptual and experimental milestones. Wormlike micelles mark a paradigm shift, linking fundamental colloid research with applied material design. Future progress is anticipated in stimulus-responsive systems and the synergy of computational modeling with experimental studies, offering sustained innovation across interdisciplinary fields.

Key words: viscoelastic surfactant, micelles, wormlike micelles, colloid chemistry, self-assembly

CLC Number: 

  • TQ423