%0 Journal Article
%A Paul, N.
%A Paul, A.
%A Mattauch, S.
%A Müller-Buschbaum, P.
%A Böni, P.
%A Lux-Steiner, M. Ch.
%T Interfacial smoothening of polymer multilayers with molecules: a new approach in growing supramolecular layer structures
%J Soft matter
%V 9
%N 42
%@ 1744-6848
%C London
%I Royal Soc. of Chemistry
%M FZJ-2015-03379
%P 10117-10128
%D 2013
%X The development of polymer-based structures is hindered due to the difficulties in realizing well-defined modulated structures without interpenetration of charged polymers. Two types of polyelectrolyte multilayer structures, with and without embedded layers of the biomolecule, glutamic acid, are compared using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Structure characterization of polyelectrolyte multilayers focuses usually on the arrangement along the surface normal. Using specular and off-specular neutron scattering we get insight into the in- and out-of-plane arrangement of the structure. A formation of well-defined, smooth layers is observed in the structure containing the biomolecule. This reduced roughness is associated with a drastic decrease in chain mobility responsible for interpenetration. In contrast, the multilayer without the biomolecule forms an island-like structure. Thus biomolecules can interrupt the propagation of island-like structures at such interfaces which can be effectively used in achieving well-defined supramolecular layer structures out of charged polymers.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000325726100018
%R 10.1039/c3sm51792f
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/201069