Nanoscale Pattern Formation in Polyelectrolyte Gels
Keyword(s):
AbstractPolyelectrolyte (PE) gels exhibit complex phase behavior that includes the existence of nanostructures in poor-solvent conditions. The formation of these inhomogeneous structures is made possible by the competition between the short-range hydrophobic, elastic, and entropic interactions and the long-range electrostatic forces. We develop a theoretical framework that describes the effect of monomer and charge inhomogeneities in PE gels. Numerical calculations performed on a salt-free PE gel with one-dimensional heterogeneities demonstrate the presence of nanophases for a finite range of physical parameters.
1985 ◽
Vol 54
(9)
◽
pp. 3277-3288
◽
Keyword(s):
1988 ◽
Vol 57
(10)
◽
pp. 3323-3331
◽
1999 ◽
Vol 192
(1)
◽
pp. 177-190
◽
Keyword(s):
1990 ◽
Vol 59
(12)
◽
pp. 4346-4361
◽
Keyword(s):
1988 ◽
Vol 57
(7)
◽
pp. 2293-2309
◽
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):