Micellization in solutions of ionic liquids

This review is devoted to the problem of aggregation in solutions of ionic liquids (ILs) and the results of relevant studies published in recent years. To a great extent, this problem remains urgent, because the ability to self-organization extends the possibilities of the practical application of ILs. The fields of IL application in which their amphiphilicity is of importance in connection with widening the spectrum of objects under investigation are discussed. The results of studying the aggregation behavior of different systems are briefly considered, including IL solutions in water, water-organic, and organic solvents; aqueous solutions of IL-classical surfactant mixtures; and solutions in which one IL plays the role of a solvent, while another IL or a classical surfactant serves as an amphiphilic solute. Some experimental results are analyzed, and thermodynamic aspects of micellization and problems of molecular-thermodynamic simulation are discussed.