Layer-by-layer (LbL) method (also known as LbL assembly, electrostatic self-assembly (ESA), or polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) technology) is a versatile method to form mutilayers on a solid support. The self-assembly method is driven by the electrostatic force between the precursor materials. Precursor materials to form mutilayers can be chosen from polyelectrolytes, biopolymers, clays, metal complex and their derivates, nanoparticles, dendrimers, and so on (Bertrand et al. 2000). The advantages of this method are the relatively simple process, independence of substrate properties (i.e., size, topology, materials, and so on), and formation of fuzzy structure. Therefore, LbL method has a potential to be applied in various applications including forming multicomposite films, nanoparticle modification, enzyme process, optic development, sensors, membrane for water treatment, fuel cell, and so on.
The basic formation mechanism of a typical LbL process is shown in the schematic drawing in...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bertrand P, Jonas A, Laschewsky A, Legras R (2000) Ultrathin polymer coatings by complexation of polyelectrolytes at interfaces: suitable materials, structure and properties. Macromol Rapid Commun 21(7):319–348
Chiarelli PA, Johal MS, Casson JL, Roberts JB, Robinson JM, Wang HL (2001) Controlled fabrication of polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films using spin-assembly. Adv Mater 13(15):1167
Deng HY, Xu YY, Zhu BK, Wei XZ, Liu F, Cui ZY (2008) Polyelectrolyte membranes prepared by dynamic self-assembly of poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium salt (PSSMA) for nanofiltration (I). J Membr Sci 323(1):125–133
Schlenoff JB, Dubas ST, Farhat T (2000) Sprayed polyelectrolyte multilayers. Langmuir 16(26):9968–9969
Zhang P, Qian J, Yang Y, An Q, Liu X, Gui Z (2008) Polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer self-assembly enhanced by electric field and their multilayer membranes for separating isopropanol-water mixtures. J Membr Sci 320(1–2):73–77
Zhang G, Dai L, Ji S (2011) Dynamic pressure-driven covalent assembly of inner skin hollow fiber multilayer membrane. AIChE J 57(10):2746–2754
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Qi, S., Tang, C.Y. (2016). Layer-by-Layer (LbL) Method. In: Drioli, E., Giorno, L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Membranes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44324-8_1487
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44324-8_1487
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44323-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44324-8
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics