Surface modification by polyelectrolytes: Studies on model systems

An improved method for the preparation of uniform dispersions of non-stoich iometric polyelectrolyte complexes on the basis of maleic acid copolymers a nd poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) was developed. The dispersed part icles showed a narrow size distribution on the nm scale and were used as mo del systems for the investigation of their adsorption on different model su rfaces. A combination of ATR-FTIR, SPR, ellipsometry and SEM was useful for the monitoring of the adsorption process of individual colloid particles a nd may lead to a quantitative description of the adsorption process. For a better understanding of the underlying principles and interactions organic model surfaces which meet the requirements of the different methods are req uired.