title: Mechanically responsive films of variable hydrophobicity made of polyelectrolyte multilayers.
abstract: Mechanically responsive surfaces that allow to switch reversibly from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic substrate are reported. The surfaces are constituted of polyelectrolyte multilayers deposited on modified charged silicone sheets. n bilayers of poly(allylamine)-Nafion (PAH-Naf) and m bilayers of poly(allylamine)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAH-PAA) composed the multilayers. A (PAH-Naf)(n) film possesses a water contact angle of around 105 degrees, whereas the contact angle of a (PAH-Naf)(4)-(PAH-PAA)(m) multilayer is around 50 degrees. When such a film with m < 5 and terminated by PAA is stretched out, its water contact angle increases up to around 100 degrees. Successive elongation/retraction cycles allow the water contact angle to alternate reversibly between 100 and 57 degrees indicating the reversible mechanical responsive nature of the film.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hemmerlé
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roucoules
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleith
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lavalle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marie
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Voegel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schaaf