Exact control of the film thickness of polyelectrolyte shells (a transmission electron microscopy image is shown) is achieved by colloid-templated consecutive adsorption of polyanions and polycations followed by decomposition of the templating core. Possible areas of application for these shells range from the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and paint industries to catalysis and microcrystallization.
Donath et al. (1998) studied this question.