1 research outputs found
Overcharging of a macroion by an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte
The complexation of a polyelectrolyte with an oppositely charged spherical
macroion is studied for both salt free and salty solutions. When a
polyelectrolyte winds around the macroion, its turns repel each other and form
an almost equidistant coil. It is shown that this repulsive correlations of
turns lead to the charge inversion: more polyelectrolyte winds around the
macroion than it is necessary to neutralize it. The charge inversion becomes
stronger with increasing concentration of salt and can exceed 100%. This paper
confirms that correlations are the universal mechanism of charge inversion.Comment: Monte-Carlo simulation details added. Many corrections and references
added. Accepted to Physica