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Counterion condensation and phase separation in solutions of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dobrynin, AV; Rubinstein, M
Published in: Macromolecules
2001

We have developed a theory of counterion condensation in solutions of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes. In the framework of Oosawa’s two-zone model we demonstrate that solutions of necklaces can be unstable with respect to phase separation. This phase separation is triggered by the concentration-induced counterion condensation. For the range of parameters at which the polyelectrolyte solution is stable, we predict nonmonotonic dependence of the chain size on polymer concentration. This nonmonotonicity in the chain size manifests itself in the dramatic increase in solution viscosity at the crossover to concentrated polyelectrolyte solution. There is also a possibility of two peaks in the scattering function of qualitatively different physical nature observed in different concentration regimes. The scattering intensity at the peak position increases with polymer concentration in low concentration (necklace) regime and decreases with concentration in concentrated polyelectrolyte solutions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Macromolecules

DOI

ISSN

0024-9297

Publication Date

2001

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymers
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences
 

Citation

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Dobrynin, A. V., & Rubinstein, M. (2001). Counterion condensation and phase separation in solutions of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes. Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma001619o
Dobrynin, Andrey V., and Michael Rubinstein. “Counterion condensation and phase separation in solutions of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes.” Macromolecules, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1021/ma001619o.
Dobrynin, Andrey V., and Michael Rubinstein. “Counterion condensation and phase separation in solutions of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes.” Macromolecules, 2001. Manual, doi:10.1021/ma001619o.
Journal cover image

Published In

Macromolecules

DOI

ISSN

0024-9297

Publication Date

2001

Related Subject Headings

  • Polymers
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences