Self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer films comprised of poly(allylamine) derivatized with an Os-(bpy)2ClPyCH-complex (PAH-Os), and poly(vinylsulfonate), PVS, or poly(styrensulfonate), PSS, have been studied by Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. The infrared absorbances of the characteristic SO3 -, CH2, NH3 + , and aromatic bipyridine and pyridine groups have been characterized, and their intensity increases with the number of self-assembled layers and redox charge. The characteristic infrared signatures are the 1040 cm -1 band assigned to the aromatic ligands in the osmium complex (ν(Py)), PAH-Os, and the 1040 cm -1 (νs(SO3 -)) and 1213 cm -1 (νa(SO3 -)) bands for SO3 groups in PVS. The νs(SO3 -) vibrational mode of PVS senses the local NH3 + environment of the cationic PAH-Os resulting in a band shift of 22 cm -1 for the first polyallylamine layer. Subtractively normalized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy during the oxidation of the Os centers in the (PAH-Os)n(PVS)m multilayer reveals that different vibrational modes of bipyridine ligands in the osmium redox center of PAH-Os and the sulfonate groups of PVS are affected by charge-ligand electrostatic interaction and dipole reorganization in the multilayers.