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Counter-ion distribution around flexible polyelectrolytes having different molecular architecture

Published

Author(s)

Alexandros Chremos, Jack F. Douglas

Abstract

We explore the coupling between configurational shape of flexible highly-charged polyelectrolytes of variable topology (linear chain, star, unknotted and trefoil ring) and the counter-ion distribution by molecular dy-namics simulations that include an explicit solvent. Although the counter-ions exert a strong influence on chain configuration that is greatly influenced by polymer topology, we find a universal two-scale localization of the counter-ions about the polymeric structures with correlation lengths on the scale of the Debye length and polymer radius of gyration, respectively.
Citation
Soft Matter
Volume
12

Keywords

polyelectrolyte, charge condensation, stars, rings, knots, topology, counter-ion distribution

Citation

Chremos, A. and Douglas, J. (2016), Counter-ion distribution around flexible polyelectrolytes having different molecular architecture, Soft Matter (Accessed March 29, 2024)
Created January 29, 2016, Updated October 12, 2021