Eur. Phys. J. E 6, 351-358 (2001)
Hindered ion diffusion in polyelectrolyte/montmorillonite multilayers: Toward compartmentalized films
B. Struth1, M. Eckle1, G. Decher1, R. Oeser2, P. Simon3, D.W. Schubert3 and J. Schmitt11 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Charles Sadron, 6 rue Boussingault, F-67083 Strasbourg-Cedex, France
2 GKSS Forschungzentrum Geesthacht GmbH, Max-Planck-Strasse, D-21502 Geesthacht, Germany
3 Université Louis Pasteur (ULP), 1 rue Blaise Pascal, F-67008 Strasbourg-Cedex, France
decher@ics.u-strasbg.fr
(Received 31 July 2000 and Received in final form 18 May 2001)
Abstract
This report describes the construction of multicomposite ultrathin films
using the layer-by-layer assembly technique. The films are built-up with
two different architectures: with and without a layer composed of the
inorganic nanosheets of the clay mineral montmorillonite. Using two
techniques of characterization, neutron reflectometry (for deuterated
polyelectrolytes) and absorbance spectroscopy (for ion-sensitive dyes),
it is demonstrated that the mineral layer acts as a barrier for the
transport of ions along the film normal.
68.65.-k - Low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale systems: structure and nonelectronic properties.
81.07.Pr - Organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures.
81.16.Fg - Supramolecular and biochemical assembly.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001