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Periodic Self-Assembly of Poly(ethyleneimine)-poly(4-styrenesulfonate) Complex Coacervate Membranes.

Ekaterina V KukhtenkoFilipp V LavrentevVladimir V ShilovskikhPolina I ZyrianovaSemyon I KoltsovArtemii S IvanovKonstantin Yu ZhizhinAnton A MuravevKonstantin G NikolaevDaria V AndreevaEkaterina V Skorb
Published in: Polymers (2022)
Coacervation is a self-assembly strategy based on the complexation of polyelectrolytes, which is utilized in biomedicine and agriculture, as well as automotive and textile industries. In this paper, we developed a new approach to the on-demand periodic formation of polyelectrolyte complexes through a Liesegang-type hierarchical organization. Adjustment of reaction conditions allows us to assemble materials with a tunable spatiotemporal geometry and establish materials' production cycles with a regulated periodicity. The proposed methodology allows the membrane to self-assemble when striving to reach balance and self-heal after exposure to external stimuli, such as potential difference and high pH. Using chronopotentiometry, K + ion permeability behavior of the PEI-PSS coacervate membranes was demonstrated. The periodically self-assembled polyelectrolyte nanomembranes could further be integrated into novel energy storage devices and intelligent biocompatible membranes for bionics, soft nanorobotics, biosensing, and biocomputing.
Keyphrases
  • climate change
  • wastewater treatment
  • ionic liquid
  • human health
  • risk assessment
  • drug release
  • energy transfer
  • light emitting