title: Water distribution in multilayers of weak polyelectrolytes.
abstract: The water localization in thin polyelectrolyte multilayers assembled from poly(acrylic acid) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) was investigated with neutron reflectivity in an atmosphere of controlled humidity and with bulk water. Water was found to be distributed asymmetrically within the multilayer and to localize preferentially at the polymer surface. The diffusion of water into the multilayer did not completely penetrate to the substrate, but instead there appeared to be an exclusion zone near the Si substrate. These results help to explain previous observations of anomalous water transport kinetics in weak polyelectrolyte systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Oleh M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Tanchak
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.forename: Thad
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harroun
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katsaras
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009502:Neutrons; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004573:Electrolytes; D011073:Polyamines; D014867:Water; C063994:polyallylamine; C006903:carbopol 940