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arXiv · cond-mat/0603756

Polyelectrolyte stars in planar confinement

Martin Konieczny·Christos N. Likos
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Abstract

We employ monomer-resolved Molecular Dynamics simulations and theoretical considerations to analyze the conformations of multiarm polyelectrolyte stars close to planar, uncharged walls. We identify three mechanisms that contribute to the emergence of a repulsive star-wall force, namely: the confinement of the counterions that are trapped in the star interior, the increase in electrostatic energy due to confinement as well as a novel mechanism arising from the compression of the stiff polyelectrolyte rods approaching the wall. The latter is not present in the case of interaction between two polyelectrolyte stars and is a direct consequence of the impenetrable character of the planar wall.

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Martin Konieczny, Christos N. Likos. 2006-04-18. Polyelectrolyte stars in planar confinement. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2202855

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