Lämpötilariippuvat rakennemuutokset polyelektrolyyttikomplekseissa ja kerroksittaisissa kalvoissa

Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs), also known as layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies, are a potentially revolutionary class of thin films that can exhibit extraordinary superhydrophobicity, tensile strength, and responsiveness with applications ranging from biological and energy systems to smart surfaces, sensors, and drug delivery. However, their materials properties – particularly their thermal properties – are largely unknown, and knowledge of such properties is critical to the future design and implementation of PEMs. This proposal aims to elucidate the fundamental properties governing the thermal characteristics of PEMs and their sister-systems, polyelectrolyte (PE) complexes. The proposed study consists of thorough interconnected experimental and simulational physicochemical characterization of PE complexes and the tie-together with analogous multilayers with the purpose of providing guidelines for PEM growth regimes and elucidating the nature of glass transitions in PE systems.