Aggregation of rod-like polyelectrolyte chains in the presence of monovalent counterions

Anoop Varghese; R. Rajesh; Satyavani Vemparala

doi:10.1063/1.4771920

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arXiv · 1204.6585

Aggregation of rod-like polyelectrolyte chains in the presence of monovalent counterions

Anoop Varghese·R. Rajesh·Satyavani Vemparala

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Abstract

Using molecular dynamics simulations, it is demonstrated that monovalent counterions can induce aggregation of similarly charged rod-like polyelectrolyte chains. The critical value of the linear charge density for aggregation is shown to be close to the critical value for the extended-collapsed transition of a single flexible polyelectrolyte chain, and decreases with increasing valency of the counterions. The effective interaction potential between two rod-like polyelectrolyte chains is measured, and is related to the angular distribution of the condensed counterions.

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Anoop Varghese, R. Rajesh, Satyavani Vemparala. 2012-12-02. Aggregation of rod-like polyelectrolyte chains in the presence of monovalent counterions. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4771920

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