2022 Impact factor 1.8
Soft Matter and Biological Physics


Eur. Phys. J. E 5, 59-64

Polyelectrolytes tethered to a free surface

F. Dubreuil and P. Guenoun

Service de Physique de l'État Condensé, Orme des Merisiers, C.E.A. Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France

guenoun@drecam.saclay.cea.fr or pguenoun@cea.fr

(Received 9 May 2000)

Abstract
Several attempts have been already carried out in order to tether charged chains by an end at a free fluctuating surface. We review here most of these attempts and focus on how close the physics of charged brushes can be investigated by such an approach. We first describe results about films of charged-neutral diblock copolymers spread at the surface of water. Results can be mostly rationalized in terms of charged brushes although additional structurations and fluctuations of the interface can be observed. The latter deformations are also observed when adsorbed layers of charged-neutral diblock copolymers are considered. At last, we examine how free suspended films of charged-neutral diblock copolymers can be viewed as two opposing charged brushes, both in terms of thickness and pressure.

PACS
68.10.Cr - Surface energy (surface tension, interface tension, angle of contact, etc.).
68.15.+e - Liquid Thin Films.
61.25.Hq - Macromolecular and polymer solutions; polymer melts; swelling.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001