Competing mechanisms in polyelectrolyte multilayer formation and swelling: Polycation-polyanion pairing vs. polyelectrolyte-ion pairing
Abstract
The competition of interactions between charged groups of polyanions and polycations and their interaction with small counterions strongly affect the formation and stability of polyelectrolyte multilayers. This has consequences for the properties of polyelectrolyte multilayers like mechanics, polymer mobility and swelling in water.
