The synthesis and solution properties of polyglycerol alkyl ether($R_{12}Gn$) are described. The phase behavior, surface tension, cloud point and HLB value of polyglycerol dodecyl ether in aqueous solution and in mixed solution of surfactant /water /oil have been investigated and compared with values of polyoxyethylene dodecyl ether. The surface tension showed that $R_{12}Gn$ have sufficiently low values of surface tension and cmc to serve as useful polyoxyethylene alkyl ether. The mesophases appearing in the $R_{12}Gn$ systems were more stable in a high temperature range than the mesophases of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether systems. The cloud point and HLB data indicated that addition of one glycerol group was equivalent to the addition of three oxyethylene group units, as far as the hydrophilic property was concerned. The phase diagrams of the polyglycerol alkyl ether /dodecane /water systems showed that the solubilizing and emulsifying powers of $R_{12}Gn$ were greater than those of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether. It is concluded that the polyglycerol chain can be even more useful as hydrophilic group of nonionic surfactants than the polyoxyethylene chain.