The present invention relates to a non-ionic surfactant for use in surface active, liquid crystalline or molecular self-assembly applications. The surfactant of the present invention comprises a triazole-linked glycoside. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a non-ionic surfactant for use in surface active, liquid crystalline or molecular self-assembly applications, characterized by reacting a propargyl glycoside with an organic azide in a cu(i)-catalysed reaction to produce a triazole-iinked glycoside, wherein said surfactant comprises the triazole-iinked glycoside.