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Theory of inhomogeneous weakly charged polyelectrolytes
Author(s) -
Shi AnChang,
Noolandi Jaan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3919(19990501)8:3<214::aid-mats214>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - polyelectrolyte , mean field theory , electrostatics , statistical physics , partition function (quantum field theory) , poisson–boltzmann equation , polymer , representation (politics) , chemical physics , physics , thermodynamics , materials science , quantum mechanics , ion , nuclear magnetic resonance , politics , political science , law
A theory of inhomogeneous multicomponent systems containing weakly charged polyelectrolytes is developed. The theory treats the polymer conformation and the electrostatics simultaneously using a functional integral representation of the partition function. A mean‐field approximation to the theory leads to two sets of coupled mean‐field equations: a Poisson‐Boltzmann type equation describing the electrostatic potential, and a set of self‐consistent field equations describing the equilibrium densities. Asymptotic forms of the theory at weak and strong segregation limits are derived. The theory can be used to study the interfacial properties, microphase structures, and adsorptions of a variety of weakly charged polyelectrolyte systems. As a simple example, the interface between the polymer‐rich and polymer‐poor phases of a polyelectrolyte solution is studied.