Preface
Nearly one decade ago a two volume edition on “Polyelectrolytes with Defined
Molecular Architecture” edited by M. Schmidt appeared in the Advances in Polymer Science, which summarized progress in the field at that date. Within the total
11 chapters one was dedicated to “Polyelectrolyte Complexes,” in which its authors
addressed interpolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes as well as
theoretical aspects of polyelectrolyte (PEL) complexation.
This new two-volume edition on “Polyelectrolyte Complexes in the Dispersed
and Solid State: Principles and Applications” is intended to extend the content of
this former chapter by bringing together selected state of the art contributions on
principles and theory (Volume I) as well as on actual application aspects (Volume
II) of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) based particles and soft matter. In the Volume
I progress and new knowledge on theoretical aspects of electrosorption phenomena
between PEL and oppositely charged surfaces (A.G. Cherstvy and R.G. Winkler)
and of the practically always apparent aggregation and clustering tendency of PEC
particles (N.I. Lebovka) are reviewed. Recently identified important dynamic
aspects of ion conductivity (C. Cramer and M. Scho ¨nhoff) within PEC soft
matter and relaxation phenomena within PEL/protein PEC particles (S. Lindhoud
and M.A. Cohen-Stuart) as well as structural aspects of interpolyelectrolyte complexes of novel synthetic polyionic species with nonlinear topology and polymer–
inorganic hybrids (D.V. Pergushov, A.A. Zezin, A.B. Zezin, A.H.E. Mu ¨ller) are
reviewed. In Volume II, prominent recent applications of PEC particles are
reviewed together with an outline of relevant key properties concerning colloidal
stability, size, shape, compactness, surface, and biointeraction. The use and tailoring of PEC particle-modified relevant surfaces for paper making (C. Ankerfors and
L. Wagberg), solid–liquid separation and water treatment (G. Petzold and
S. Schwarz) are addressed. The last three contributions review PEC applications
in the life sciences, including the role of PEL/protein complex assemblies in food
v
Nearly one decade ago a two volume edition on “Polyelectrolytes with Defined
Molecular Architecture” edited by M. Schmidt appeared in the Advances in Polymer Science, which summarized progress in the field at that date. Within the total
11 chapters one was dedicated to “Polyelectrolyte Complexes,” in which its authors
addressed interpolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes as well as
theoretical aspects of polyelectrolyte (PEL) complexation.
This new two-volume edition on “Polyelectrolyte Complexes in the Dispersed
and Solid State: Principles and Applications” is intended to extend the content of
this former chapter by bringing together selected state of the art contributions on
principles and theory (Volume I) as well as on actual application aspects (Volume
II) of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) based particles and soft matter. In the Volume
I progress and new knowledge on theoretical aspects of electrosorption phenomena
between PEL and oppositely charged surfaces (A.G. Cherstvy and R.G. Winkler)
and of the practically always apparent aggregation and clustering tendency of PEC
particles (N.I. Lebovka) are reviewed. Recently identified important dynamic
aspects of ion conductivity (C. Cramer and M. Scho ¨nhoff) within PEC soft
matter and relaxation phenomena within PEL/protein PEC particles (S. Lindhoud
and M.A. Cohen-Stuart) as well as structural aspects of interpolyelectrolyte complexes of novel synthetic polyionic species with nonlinear topology and polymer–
inorganic hybrids (D.V. Pergushov, A.A. Zezin, A.B. Zezin, A.H.E. Mu ¨ller) are
reviewed. In Volume II, prominent recent applications of PEC particles are
reviewed together with an outline of relevant key properties concerning colloidal
stability, size, shape, compactness, surface, and biointeraction. The use and tailoring of PEC particle-modified relevant surfaces for paper making (C. Ankerfors and
L. Wagberg), solid–liquid separation and water treatment (G. Petzold and
S. Schwarz) are addressed. The last three contributions review PEC applications
in the life sciences, including the role of PEL/protein complex assemblies in food
v