Volume 1: Preparation and Patterning PART I: Preparation A PERSPECTIVE AND INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC AND POLYMER ULTRATHIN FILMS: DEPOSITION, NANOSTRUCTURING, BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION, AND SURFACE ANALYTICAL METHODS MULTIFUNCTIONAL LAYER-BY-LAYER ARCHITECTURES FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS Introduction Drug Delivery and LbL Interaction of Cells with LbL Films: Adhesion, Proliferation, Stimulation, and Differentiation Plasmid DNA (pDNA)-Based Gene Therapy and LbL Films Exotic Applications of LbL Inspired by Biology THE LAYER-BY-LAYER ASSEMBLIES OF POLYELECTROLYTES AND NANOMATERIALS AS FILMS AND PARTICLE COATINGS Layer-by-Layer (LbL) Self-Assembly Technique The Properties of Polyelectrolytes Adsorption of Polyelectrolytes Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Formation on Flat Surfaces Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Formation on Colloidal Particles Applications of Layer-by-Layer Films and Particles Advincula Group Research on Layer-by-Layer Films and Particle Coatings LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-KUHN ULTILAYER ASSEMBLIES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE LB TECHNOLOGY Introduction Historical Background Basic Procedures and Characterization Methods Types of Materials Used in Producing LB Films Trends in Research Activity on LB Films Highlights of Research in LB Films Concluding Remarks SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS: THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL NANOSCALE FILMS Introduction Historical Background for Monolayer Films Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) Fundamentals SAM Phenomena Manipulation of Adsorbate Structure Conclusions POLYELECTROLYTE BRUSHES: TWENTY YEARS AFTER Introduction - Scope of the Review Definitions How to Make Polyelectrolyte Brushes? Simple Observations and Theoretical Concepts Beyond Simplicity Toward the Application of Polyelectrolyte Brushes Conclusion PREPARATION OF POLYMER BRUSHES USING "GRAFTING-FROM" TECHNIQUES Introduction to Polymer Brushes and Their Formation Methods for Synthesis of Polymer Brushes Surface-Initiated ATRP Summary ULTRATHIN FUNCTIONAL POLYMER FILMS USING PLASMA-ASSISTED DEPOSITION Introduction Choice of Precursors Polymerization Mechanisms and Chemical Structure Properties of Ultrathin Functional Plasma Polymers Summary PREPARATION OF POLYMER THIN FILMS BY PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION Introduction Overview of PVD of Polymers Direct Evaporation of Polymers Stepwise Polymerization by Coevaporation of Bifunctional Monomers Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Surface-Initiated Vapor-Deposition Polymerization Conclusions ELECTRO-OPTICAL APPLICATIONS OF CONJUGATED POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Properties of Organic Semiconductors and Conjugated Polymers Synthetic Methods Characterization Methods Device Fabrication Concluding Remarks ULTRATHIN FILMS OF CONJUGATED POLYMER NETWORKS: A PRECURSOR POLYMER APPROACH TOWARD ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES, SENSORS, AND NANOPATTERNING Introduction Materials and Examples Conclusions PART II: Patterning NANOPATTERNING ND FUNCTIONALITY OF BLOCK-COPOLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Nanoscale Patterning with BCPs Functionality of BCP Thin Films Summary and Outlook PATTERNING BY PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY Introduction Deep-UV Lithography 193-nm Lithography 157-nm Lithography 193-nm Immersion Lithography Next-Generation Lithographic Technology Summary NANOPATTERNING OF POLYMER BRUSH THIN FILMS BY ELECTRON-BEAM LITHOGRAPHY AND SCANNING PROBE LITHOGRAPHY Introduction Electron-Beam Lithography Scanning Probe Lithography Conclusions DIRECT PATTERNING FOR ACTIVE POLYMERS Introduction Direct Photopatterning by Photocross-Linking Direct Photopatterning by Photo-Oxidation Direct Patterning by Photoinduced Acidification Reversible Patterning Conclusion NANOPATTERNING OF PHOTOSENSITIVE POLYMER FILMS Introduction Nanofabrication by a Tightly Focused Laser Beam Near-Field Nanofabrication beyond the Diffraction Limit of Light Two-Photon Patterning Conclusion Volume 2: Characterization and Application PART III: Characterization DYNAMICS OF THERMOMECHANICS OF POLYMER FILMS Introduction Experimental Techniques Dynamics Thermomechanical Properties Conclusion and Outlook INVESTIGATIONS OF SOFT ORGANIC FILMS WITH ELLIPSOMETRY Introduction Modeling Multiple-Angle Ellipsometry and Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry Fourier-Transform Ellipsometry Comparison of Optical and Acoustic Reflectometry Summary and Conclusions SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF THIN HYDROGEL COATINGS Introduction Fabrication of Surface-Attached Networks and Characterization Techniques Thermodynamics of Confined Hydrogels Thermodynamics of Confined, Responsive Hydrogels Swelling-Induced Surface Instabilities in Confined Hydrogels Summary and Concluding Remarks SCATTERING TECHNIQUES FOR THIN POLYMER FILMS Introduction Structure of Polymer/Polymer Interfaces Revealed by Reflectivity Block Copolymer Thin Films Measured with Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Thin Films of Organic Semiconductors Measured with X-Ray Scattering Transmission X-Ray Scattering Summary NANOSTRUCTURED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES FOR THIN-FILM CHARACTERIZATION Introduction Experimental Techniques Theoretical Descriptions Cylindrical Nanostructures as Optical Waveguides Isotropic Mesoporous Waveguides Nanostructured Nanorod Arrays by Templating Strategies Conclusions ELECTROCHEMICAL SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE METHODS FOR POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Electrochemical Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy Evaluation of Polymer Thin Films by EC-SPR Electrochemical SPR-SPPL Electrochemical SPR Microscopy Simultaneous Electrochemical-Atomic Force Microscopy-SPR Application to Bio/Chemical Sensors EC-SPR Method - Grating-Coupling Surface Plasmon Excitation Combination of Electrochemical-Quartz Crystal Microbalance Electrochemical SPR under High Pressure Conclusions CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLECULARLY THIN POLYMER LAYERS WITH THE SURFACE FORCES APPARATUS (SFA) Introduction: Polymer Layers Adsorbed on and Confined between Solid Surfaces Force Measurements with the Surface Forces Apparatus (SFA) Forces in Systems with Adsorbing or Nonadsorbing Homopolymer Forces in Systems with End-Adsorbed Polymer Interactions between Dry Polymer Layers: Adhesion Importance of Polymer Interactions for Applications BIOMIMETIC THIN FILMS AS A QCM-D SENSOR PLATFORM TO DETECT MACROMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS Introduction Brief Overview of Quartz Crystals QCM Methodologies: Steady-State versus Transient Behavior Q CM-D Analysis of Biomimetic Thin Films: Assembly and Applications Conclusion ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY (EIS) Basic Principles Polymer Films Stratified Films CHARACTERIZATION OF RESPONSIVE POLYMER BRUSHES AT SOLID7LIQUID INTERFACES BY ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY Introduction Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy - Basic Principles Electrochemistry as a Tool to Characterize Thin Polymer Films Probing the Responsive Properties of Polymer Brushes through EIS Measurements Molecular Transport within Polymer Brushes Studies by EIS Time-Resolved EIS Measurements on Responsive Polymer Brushes Concluding Remarks X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY OF ULTRATHIN ORGANIC FILMS Introduction Binding Energy Angle-Resolved XPS Photodegradation of Organic Films Conclusions PART IV: Applications SELF-ASSEMBLED MULTIFUNCTIONAL POLYMERS FOR BIOINTERFACES Introduction Immobilization and Conformation of Polymers at Biointerfaces Surface Strategies for Bio-Oriented Applications Summary and Outlook FABRICATION, PROPERTIES, AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF NANOSHEETS Introduction Nanosheets of Micrometer Size as Platelet Substitutes Giant Nanosheets as Nanoadhesive Plasters Surgical Applications of Nanoadhesive Plasters Nanosheets for the Next Generation Concluding Remarks HYBRID MULTILAYER FILMS CONTAINING NANO-OBJECTS Introduction Preparation Methods for Hybrid Multilayer Films Building-Block Materials for Hybrid Multilayer Films Conclusion LIGHT-DIRECTED SMART RESPONSES IN AZOBENZENE-CONTAINING LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMER THIN FILMS Introduction Photoalignment of Molecular Aggregates (Nanoscale Regions) Block-Copolymer Microphase Separation (MPS) Structure (Mesoscale Region) Surface-Relief Formation (Microscale Regions) Summary THIN-FILM APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROACTIVE POLYMERS Introduction Applications Conclusions and Future Outlook HYBRID NANOMATERIALS IN ULTRATHIN FILMS: THE SOL-GEL METHOD AND PI-CONJUGATED POLYMERS Why Hybrid Nanomaterials and Thin Films? How to Fabricate Hybrid, Layered, Thin-Film Nanomaterials Hybrid Nanomaterials: More than Just "Clay" and "Plastic" Sol-Gel Chemistry for Nanostructuring Conducting Polymers for Nanostructuring Hybrid Inorganic-Oxide-Polymer Materials: The State-of-the-Art Summary.