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Adsorption of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes as studied by \emph{in situ} high energy X-Ray reflectivity

Damien Baigl·Marie-Alice Guedeau-Boudeville·Raymond Ober·François Rieutord·Michele Sferrazza·Olivier Théodoly·Thomas A. Waigh·Claudine E. Williams
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Abstract

A series of well-defined hydrophilic and hydrophobic polyelectrolytes of various chain lengths $N$ and effective charge fractions $f_{eff}$ have been adsorbed onto oppositely charged solid surfaces immersed in aqueous solutions. \emph{In situ} high energy X-ray reflectivity has provided the thickness $h$, the electron density and the roughness of the adsorbed layer in its aqueous environment. In the case of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes, we have found $h\propto N^0 f_{eff}^{-2/3}$, in agreement with a pearl-necklace conformation for the chains induced by a Rayleigh-like instability.

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Damien Baigl, Marie-Alice Guedeau-Boudeville, Raymond Ober, François Rieutord, Michele Sferrazza, Olivier Théodoly, Thomas A. Waigh, Claudine E. Williams. 2004-03-04. Adsorption of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes as studied by \emph{in situ} high energy X-Ray reflectivity. https://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0403139

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