ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Polyelectrolyte adsorption

We have different things in our body called ions that have a positive or negative charge. Just like how a magnet has a positive and negative side, these ions can stick to things that have the opposite charge.

Polyelectrolytes are special things that have a lot of positive or negative charges all over their surface. When we put these polyelectrolytes in water, they start to float around and move around.

Now, imagine we have a surface, like a wall or a piece of paper, and we put the polyelectrolytes in the water near the surface. The ions in the water will start to stick to the polyelectrolytes and create a sort of film on the surface.

This process is called polyelectrolyte adsorption, which means that the polyelectrolytes are sticking to the surface like glue. We can use this process to make different coatings for things like medical implants or to remove pollutants from water.

In summary, polyelectrolyte adsorption is when special charged things in water stick to surfaces with the opposite charge, creating a film or coating that can be used for different things.