Short range interactions in polyelectrolyte multilayers

Polymer films consisting of consecutive polyanion and polycation layers are described. Many factors like polymer charge density, ionic strength and type of ion play an important role for the structure and the properties of such multilayer. Some of the effects cannot be described by electrostatic interactions and (poly) ion-specific effects have to be taken into account. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.