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A theoretical investigation on the pH-induced switching of mixed polyelectrolyte brushes

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Abstract

A theoretical investigation on the pH-induced switching of mixed polyelectrolyte brushes was performed by using a molecular theory. The results indicate that the switching properties of mixed polyelectrolyte brushes are dependent on the pH values. At low pH, negatively charged chains adopt a compact conformation on the bottom of the brush while positively charged chains are highly stretched away from the surface. At high pH values, the inverse transformation takes place. The role of pH determining the polymer chains conformation and charge behavior of mixed polyelectrolyte brushes was analyzed. It is found that there exists a mechanism for reducing strong electrostatic repulsions: stretching of the chains. The H+ and OH− units play a more important role as counterions of the charged polymers do. The collapse of the polyelectrolyte chains for different pH values could be attributed to the screening of the electrostatic interactions and the counterion-mediated attractive interaction along the chains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xinjiang Laboratory of Phase Transitions and Microstructures of Condensed Matter Physics, Yi Li Normal University, Yining, 835000, China

    Xin-jun Zhao  (赵新军)

  2. School of Electronics and Information, Yi Li Normal University, Yining, 835000, China

    Guo-liang Zhang

Authors
  1. Xin-jun Zhao  (赵新军)
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  2. Guo-liang Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin-jun Zhao  (赵新军).

Additional information

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21264016 and 11265015) and the General Foundation of Yi Li Normal University (No. 2013YSYB17). Accepted November 19, 2013

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Zhao, Xj., Zhang, Gl. A theoretical investigation on the pH-induced switching of mixed polyelectrolyte brushes. Chin J Polym Sci 32, 568–576 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-014-1429-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-014-1429-6

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