Layer-to-layer adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes: The effect of molecular mass: 2. Bilayer systems

摘要

The effect of molecular mass on the formation of a bilayer structure upon the layer-to-layer adsorption of a cationic polyelectrolyte (poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride), molecular mass M = 500000 and 100000-200000 Da) and an anionic polyelectrolyte sodium (poly(acrylate), M = 30000 and 2100 Da) on the surface of fused quartz is studied by the capillary electrokinetic method. The time required to reach constant adsorption values and the structure of bilayer systems depend on the ratio between molecular masses of the cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. The deformability of the bilayer system significantly exceeds that of the first layer in the case when the second layer is formed from an anionic polyelectrolyte with a lower molecular mass, thus suggesting the loosening of the first adsorption layer of the cationic polyelectrolyte. The adsorption of the anionic polyelectrolyte with higher molecular mass insignificantly affects the density of the first layer. Variation in the deformability of the layer with time (its aging) depends on the ratio between molecular masses of the polyelectrolytes.