29.06.2013 Views

a) b - École Polytechnique de Montréal

a) b - École Polytechnique de Montréal

a) b - École Polytechnique de Montréal

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

2.4.1.1.8 Overcompensation of the Multilayer/Solution Interface<br />

The charged surface, after each new polyelectrolyte <strong>de</strong>position, is the driving force for buildup of<br />

multilayers in a linear growth system. In the case of exponentially growing films, at the end of<br />

each step, on the outer surface of the multilayer (multilayer/solution interface), an extra charge<br />

(overcompensation) appears, which is responsible for the non-linear growth of thickness.<br />

There are two reasons for overcompensation at the interface of multilayer and solution:<br />

overcompensation due to diffusion of polyelectrolytes in and out of the multilayer(Lavalle, et al.,<br />

2002; Lavalle et al., 2004) and overcompensation due to addition of salt in solutions(Dubas &<br />

Schlenoff, 2001a, 2001c; Schlenoff & Dubas, 2001).<br />

2.4.1.1.8.1 Overcompensation due to Difussion of Polyelectrolytes insi<strong>de</strong><br />

Multilayers<br />

Lavalle et al.(Lavalle, et al., 2002) proposed a mo<strong>de</strong>l based on AFM observations for<br />

overcompensation on multilayer surfaces due to diffusion of polyelectrolytes inward and<br />

outward throughout the multilayer film, leading to exponential growth. Later, they verified their<br />

i<strong>de</strong>a by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), optical wavegui<strong>de</strong> lightmo<strong>de</strong><br />

spectroscopy (OWLS), and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)(Picart, et al., 2002). They<br />

reported that in a PGA/PLL system, if the outer layer is PLL, two kinds of PLL chains in the film<br />

were <strong>de</strong>fined. The first population consists of chains which have formed the multilayer by being<br />

strongly involved in interactions with PGA. The second one consists of some mobile chains<br />

which are weakly bon<strong>de</strong>d to the polyelectrolyte structure in the film construction. The latter<br />

chains can diffuse within the film and are responsible for excess charge of multilayer<br />

(overcompensation), which must be compensated by counterions. Dipping the multilayer in a<br />

solution of PGA in the next step results in a strong interaction between the PGA chains and the<br />

first population of PLL chains located at the surface, to form the outermost layer. At the same<br />

time, mobile PLL chains in the interior of the multilayer slowly diffuse outward. When these<br />

chains reach the surface, an extra reaction between them and PGA chains present in the solution<br />

occurs and an extra layer of PLL/PGA is formed. These neutral complexes are weakly anchored<br />

83

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!