Langmuir-Blodgett films of micron-sized organic and inorganic colloids

Multilayered films starting with silica or polymer particles in the micron-size range have been prepared using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The polymer particles made of highly cross-linked cores and hydrophilic shells were elaborated through a precipitation polymerization method that allows formation of particles with a low polydispersity. The influence of the surface function, the differences between organic and inorganic systems, and the characterization of these materials by means of reflectance infrared spectroscopy are also discussed.