A covalently attached sandwich structure between layers and particles has been fabricated from -COOH-containing copolymer latex particles and -N-2(+)-containing polymers by self-assembly combined with a UV irradiation technique. The ionic bonds involving the layers and particles change to covalent bonds under UV irradiation and the sandwich structure become very stable toward polar organic solvents and electrolyte aqueous solutions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.