title: Functional polyelectrolytes.
abstract: This perspective seeks to identify an area of soft materials research focused on the study of functional polyelectrolytes. These materials combine the useful properties intrinsic to polyelectrolyte chains, with added functionality provided by specific molecular (or polymeric) functional groups that are present in the polymer backbone or as a pendant functionality. Examples are provided to demonstrate how the combined functionality can be used to create films and assemblies with interesting and useful optical, electro-optical, and electronic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Center for Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, USA. kschanze@chem.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Kirk S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schanze
authors.forename: Abigail H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D011108:Polymers