Skip to main content

NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Interfacial tension in polyelectrolyte systems exhibiting associative liquid-liquid phase separation

Published

Author(s)

Vivek Prabhu

Abstract

A continued interest in polyelectrolyte phase diagrams guides the study of interfacial phenomena driven by polyelectrolyte complexation. The liquid-liquid interfaces formed by associative phase separation of oppositely charged synthetic and natural polyelectrolytes provides measurement challenges addressed by force-sensitive methods and deformed droplet retraction. The ultralow interfacial tension, typical of these systems, are sensitive to salt concentration and temperature and display universal features described by mean field theory. Several areas of fundamental development as well as novel applications of charge complexation for interfacial study are described.
Citation
Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science
Volume
53

Keywords

polyelectrolyte, complexation, interfacial tension, mean field theory, phase diagram

Citation

Prabhu, V. (2021), Interfacial tension in polyelectrolyte systems exhibiting associative liquid-liquid phase separation, Current Opinion in Colloid and Interface Science, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101422, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=931373 (Accessed October 9, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created February 3, 2021, Updated September 29, 2025
Was this page helpful?