Formation and stability of multilayers of polyelectrolytes

Sequential addition of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes may lead to the formation of multilayers at a solid surface. The buildup of such multilayers is characterized by a stepwise increase of the adsorbed amount and layer thickness and by alternating highly positive and highly negative values for the zeta-potential. The prime variables which determine the stability of these structures are the polymer charge and the ionic strength. Very stable multilayers are formed when both polymers are highly charged and when the ionic strength is low. For weakly stable multilayers complexation at the surface may first occur, followed by desorption of the complexes. For strongly charged polyelectrolytes the charge stoichiometry, which is not always 1:1, seems to be unique for each pair of polyelectrolytes; no influence of the substrate, of the pH, or of the ionic strength could be observed.