Surface-induced layer formation in polyelectrolytes

Abstract

We analyze, by means of an RPA calculation, the conditions under which a mixture of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes can micro-segregate in the neighborhood of a charged surface creating a layered structure. A number of stable layers can be formed if the surface is sufficiently strongly charged even at temperatures at which the bulk of the mixture is homogeneous.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, revtex, epsf, psfi