Dynamically Bonded Layer-by-Layer Films: Dynamic Properties and Applications

Layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly, a simple but versatile method for thin film fabrication, has been widely employed to fabricate nanoengineered films with controlled composition and thickness. Dynamically bonded LBL films are films fabricated using dynamic bonds, that is, chemical bonds which can undergo reversible breaking and reformation usually under equilibrium conditions, as driving forces. Because of the reversible, dynamic nature of the dynamic bonds, these films exhibit various dynamic properties, ranging from a small scale movement of the polymer chains within the films (chain rearrangement), to a large scale movement of the chains, which results in film disintegration. Usually an external stimulus is used to trigger the response of a dynamic film. Novel applications have been proposed by exploiting the dynamic properties of these films. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.