Deposition Mechanisms in Layer-by-Layer or Step-by-Step Deposition Methods: From Elastic and Impermeable Films to Soft Membranes with Ion Exchange Properties

Figure 5

Relationship between polyelectrolyte complexation in solution (upper row: the interaction between polyelectrolytes in a 1 : 1 stochiometry, on the basis of monomer units, is quantified by means of light scattering) and PEM film deposition (lower row: the film deposition is quantified by means of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring from polyelectrolyte solutions at the same concentration as that used for the phase diagrams). Two different combinations of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are represented: poly(L-lysine hydrobromide)/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PLL/PSS) and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride)/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PDADMAC/PSS) adapted from [50].