Formation of robust, free-standing nanostructured membranes from catanionic surfactant mixtures and hydrophilic polymers.

A new type of surfactant templated polymer film, which spontaneously forms at the air/water interface into micron-thick structures, was prepared from a water-soluble polymer and a catanionic surfactant mixture; the film is stable, highly ordered and robust, requiring no cross-linking agents to fix the structure.