Buildup of Ultrathin Multilayer Films by a Self-Assembly Process: II. Consecutive Adsorption of Anionic and Cationic Bipolar Amphiphiles and Polyelectrolytes on Charged Surfaces

We have recently reported on the consecutive physisorption of anionic and cationic bipolar amphiphiles onto charged surfaces, adsorbed out of aqueous solutions [1]. Here, we extend our previous concept to multipolar compounds such as polyelectrolytes. In contrast to the bipolar amphiphile system, it is not necessary to separate single charges by a rigid unit, when the polyelectrolyte is adsorbed from sufficiently concentrated solutions. In this case the physisorbed layer does not bind with all ionic groups to the surface and exposes free ionic groups at the new film/solution interface. Therefore a polyelectrolyte layer can replace a layer of bipolar amphiphiles in the consecutive buildup of…