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Chapter: Structure and phase behavior of polyampholytes and polyzwitterions
Published
Author(s)
Phillip Pickett, Yuanchi Ma, Vivek Prabhu, Michael Lueckheide, Nicholas Posey
Abstract
Polyelectrolytes contain many units of charged moieties, often as either anionic or cationic. However, when a polymer comprises both anionic and cationic monomers, the result is a polyampholyte. Polyzwitterions are a type of polyampholyte that contain pairs of opposite charges within each monomer unit, ultimately leading to charge neutrality across the entire polymer structure. These special classes of ion-containing polymers have many applications enabled by advances in synthesis. This article discusses the unique solution-responsive behaviors of these ion-containing polymers and how their chemistry is used to alter structure–property relationships.
Pickett, P.
, Ma, Y.
, Prabhu, V.
, Lueckheide, M.
and Posey, N.
(2022),
Chapter: Structure and phase behavior of polyampholytes and polyzwitterions, Macromolecular Engineering, 4 Volumes, Wiley-VCH GmbH, Weinheim, , [online], https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527815562.mme0056, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=931644
(Accessed October 6, 2025)