1204.6585 (Anoop Varghese et al.)

Aggregation of rod-like polyelectrolyte chains in the presence of
monovalent counterions    [PDF]

Anoop Varghese, R. Rajesh, Satyavani Vemparala

Using molecular dynamics simulations, it is demonstrated that monovalent counterions can induce aggregation of similarly charged rod-like polyelectrolyte chains. The critical value of the linear charge density for aggregation is shown to be close to the critical value for the extended-collapsed transition of a single flexible polyelectrolyte chain, and decreases with increasing valency of the counterions. The effective interaction potential between two rod-like polyelectrolyte chains is measured, and is related to the angular distribution of the condensed counterions.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1204.6585