Polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes (synthesis, structure and materials aspects)

Self-assembled polyelectrolyte - surfactant complexes in the solid state and as nanoparticles are the topic of this review. These materials combine the properties of polymers (mechanical stability) and surfactants (formation of highly ordered mesophases). Their building principle is modular which allows a great variety in their designing as well as their structural and functional properties. Typical examples discussed in this review are complexes of fluorinated surfactants. Thin and ultra-thin films of these polyelectrolyte-fluorosurfactant complexes form different smectic structures with low surface energies. The critical surface energies are in the range 6-18 mN/m. Optically functionalized complexes form rigid-rod, smectic A, B and turbostratic layered mesophases. Electroluminescent complexes with low turn-on points are described. It is reported that complexes of hexaperi-hexabenzocoronene with polysiloxanes and poly(ethylene imine) form different columnar discotic structures with columns as long as 200 nm. These materials behave as viscoelastic solids. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.