Polyelectrolyte blend multilayers: A versatile route to engineering interfaces and films

The ability to reliably engineer surfaces with nanoscale precision is a rapidly developing field of research with applications ranging from biosensing and biomedical materials to antifouling and corrosion protection. The layer-by-layer (LbL) approach is a widely utilized method for engineering surfaces, in part because of the large array of polymeric materials that can be integrated and the diverse range of functionality that these materials afford. Herein, we discuss the LbL deposition of multicomponent 'blend' solutions to form polyelectrolyte blend multilayer films and coatings. This approach is a versatile platform for enhancing film stability, incorporating a wide range of functional materials, controlling film morphology and material properties, and increasing biological response, thereby expanding the range of potential applications.