Premium
Spray‐Assisted Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Buildup: from Step‐by‐Step to Single‐Step Polyelectrolyte Film Constructions
Author(s) -
Schaaf Pierre,
Voegel JeanClaude,
Jierry Loïc,
Boulmedais Fouzia
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201104227
Subject(s) - polyelectrolyte , materials science , nanotechnology , substrate (aquarium) , deposition (geology) , micrometer , one step , context (archaeology) , nanometre , chemical engineering , polymer , composite material , mechanical engineering , engineering , biology , geology , paleontology , oceanography , sediment
The alternate deposition of polyanions and polycations on a solid substrate leads to the formation of nanometer to micrometer films called Polyelectrolyte Multilayers. This step‐by‐step construction of organic films constitutes a method of choice to functionalize surfaces with applications ranging from optical to bioactive coatings. The method was originally developed by dipping the substrate in the different polyelectrolyte solutions. Recent advances show that spraying the polyelectrolyte solutions onto the substrate represents an appealing alternative to dipping because it is much faster and easier to adapt at an industrial level. Multilayer deposition by spraying is thus greatly gaining in interest. Here we review the current literature on this deposition method. After a brief history of polyelectrolyte multilayers to place the spraying method in its context, we review the fundamental issues that have been addresses so far. We then give an overview the different fields where the method has been applied.