Splaying hyperthin polyelectrolyte multilayers to increase their gas permeability†
Abstract
The concept of splayed, hyperthin polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) is introduced in which a bulky, hydrophilic and charged pendant group is used to increase the gas permeability of a PEM without reducing its permeation selectivity. Proof of principle studies are reported using nm-thick PEMs made from poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) bearing bulky cobaltocenium ions.