Janus Nanofilms

To make a two-dimensional Janus object, the perfluorinated anionic polyelectrolyte Nafion was adsorbed to the surface of ultrathin films of polyelectrolyte complex. Nafion changed the wetting characteristics of the polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEMU) of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) and poly(styrenesulfonate) from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. PEMUs assembled on aluminum substrates and terminated with Nafion could be released by exposure to alkali solution, producing free-floating films in the 100 nm thickness regime. Water contact angle measurements showed a strong difference in hydrophilicity between the two sides of this Janus film, which was further characterized using atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS revealed different fluorine contents on both sides of the PEMU, which could be translated to a Nafion gradient through the film. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the Nafion-containing films were much more resistant to decomposition by high salt concentration.