Supramolecular Structures on Surfaces There is little information on the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of molecules by solid surfaces pre-covered by ionic surfactants. This is particularly important if the adsorption of a biopolymer, or polyelectrolyte, can proceed on to well-defined patterns with topologically distinct regions provided by an adsorbed surfactant. It is particularly important if instead of a linear flexible chain polymer, one uses a polymer (or polyelectrolyte) that has a rigid rod conformation. Macromolecules of unique structure and architecture interacting with surface micelles can give rise to a new generation of nanometer-scale macromolecular materials. The polymer-surfactant complex formation may stabilize the surface, and lead to creation of patterned surfaces that may serve as nanolithographic masks or self-assembled surfaces with functional activity. Our efforts are focused on the study of the process of electrostatic coupling between a self-assembled surfactant and a charged polymer.
There is little information on the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of molecules by solid surfaces pre-covered by ionic surfactants. This is particularly important if the adsorption of a biopolymer, or polyelectrolyte, can proceed on to well-defined patterns with topologically distinct regions provided by an adsorbed surfactant. It is particularly important if instead of a linear flexible chain polymer, one uses a polymer (or polyelectrolyte) that has a rigid rod conformation. Macromolecules of unique structure and architecture interacting with surface micelles can give rise to a new generation of nanometer-scale macromolecular materials. The polymer-surfactant complex formation may stabilize the surface, and lead to creation of patterned surfaces that may serve as nanolithographic masks or self-assembled surfaces with functional activity. Our efforts are focused on the study of the process of electrostatic coupling between a self-assembled surfactant and a charged polymer.