Research progress in polyelectrolyte complexes based on layer-by-layer self-assembly technology and their applications

• Published in: Cai liao gong cheng = Journal of materials engineering Vol. 48; no. 12; pp. 12 - 23
• Main Authors: Zhang, Shuai, Huang, Yan-ping, Zhao, Guo-min, Pan, Ming-zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: Beijing Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials 01.12.2020; Journal of Materials Engineering
• Subjects: biosensor; Biosensors; drug release; flame retardance; Flame retardants; layer-by-layer self-assembly; Molecular chains; Multilayers; polyelectrolyte complexe; Polyelectrolytes; Rheological properties; Rheology; Self-assembly; Solid surfaces; Turbidity
• ISSN: 1001-4381; 1001-4381
• DOI: 10.11868/j.issn.1001-4381.2019.000763

Polyelectrolytes (PEs) are a class of polymers with ionizable groups on molecular chains and could dissociate into a highly charged polymeric molecule in ionizing solvent. According to their surface charges, PEs can be classified into three groups: cationic PEs, anionic PEs and amphoteric PEs. PEs have received the attention of scientists for nearly a century ever since the discovery that some natural PEs could interact in water to form colloidal complexes known as polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). PECs with three-dimensional macromolecule structure can be formed by mixing opposite charged PEs in solution. Formation of PECs will significantly influence the solubility, rheology, turbidity and conductivity of polymer solution and as-formed PECs contain the feature of stimulus responsiveness to change of external environment. Layer-by-layer self-assembly (LBL) of multilayers based on alternately adsorbing opposite charged PEs or multi-charged molecules on solid surfaces is a simple and multifunctional interface