Self-assembly of polyelectrolyte diblock copolymers within mixtures of monovalent and multivalent counterions

Autor: Hong-Ge Tan, Jing-Qi Yang, Li-Xiang Liu, Qing-Hai Hao, Tong Wei, Li-Yan Liu, Zhong-Xun Yu
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP. 22(28)
ISSN: 1463-9084
Popis: In this study, the self-assembly behavior of polyelectrolyte (PE) diblock copolymers in solutions containing mixtures of monovalent and multivalent counterions was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The properties of the assembled micelles and counterion condensations at different charge fractions of multivalent ions have been discussed. The bridging effect of multivalent ions induces the electrostatic correlations of the PE chains, leading to the fusion of large micelles and the formation of bulky aggregates. Notably, lamellar and well-organized face-centered cubic (FCC) arrangements of the assembled micelles were observed in the mixture of monovalent and trivalent ions. At large fractions of multivalent ions, cylindrical and lamellar precipitates composed of the assembled micelles were formed owing to the inter-connecting coronas. The mixtures of monovalent and multivalent counterions allow the regulation of the electrostatic interactions and tuning of the properties in assembled micelles.
Databáze: OpenAIRE