Self-Assembled Polyelectrolyte−Surfactant Complexes in Nonaqueous Solvents and in the Solid State

Abstract

The central goal of macromolecular synthesis is preparation of materials with tailored macroscopic properties. With increasing frequency, synthetic strategies not only address the formation of requisite covalent bonds, but also utilize the capability of molecules to self-organize. Self-assembly is defined as spontaneous intermolecular association via noncovalent bonds (e.g., electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, or hydrophobic interactions), resulting in thermodynamically stable, well-defined supramolecular structures with dimensions ranging from 10 nm to 10 μm. Self-organizing systems are widely represented in nature, e.g., double-helical structures of nucleic acids and bilayers of lipids within cell membranes, with organization and intimately linked function. Assembly through noncovalent interactions offers a number of advantages over chemical synthesis involving formation of covalent bonds: it does not require complicated preparative procedures, the reactions are typically fast, and the resulting structures may be capable of reversible adaptive rearrangement in response to changes in environment (e.g., solvent or temperature). Control over organization of synthetic supramolecular structures by tuning the assembly processes opens fascinating possibilities in the manipulation of materials properties on the molecular scale. This may be particularly important for fabrication of multifunctional materials for technological applications where precise control of properties is essential, e.g., electronic devices, microsensors, separation membranes, catalysts, and biomaterials.

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