Freestanding polyelectrolyte films as sensors for osmotic pressure

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Marc Nolte - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Ingo Dönch - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Andreas Fery - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)

Abstract

Freestanding ultrathin polyelectrolyte-multilayer membranes, transferred to topographically structured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), are used as mechanical sensors. Due to the membranes' semipermeability, high-molecular-weight molecules can be either entrapped inside them or excluded, thus generating an osmotic pressure. This leads to a deformation. We investigate the deformation as a function of the osmotic pressure and present an analytical theory that fully describes the data. Thus, osmotic pressures can be determined quantitatively. The individual osmotic-sensitive elements have only microscopic dimensions, and arrays can be easily produced.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1985-1989
Number of pages5
JournalChemPhysChem
Volume7
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2006
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 16929555

Keywords

Keywords

  • Membranes, Microstructures, Osmotic pressure, Polyelectrolyte multilayers, Sensors