Overcharging of polyelectrolyte complexes by the guest polyelectrolyte studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

Polyion complexes (PICs) of anionic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(sodium methacrylate), PEO-block-(PMA)Na, and a cationic homopolymer, poly((methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride), PMOTAC, have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Pyrene and naphthalene singly labeled block copolymers were used with two different sodium methacrylate block lengths. The chain exchange between the stoichiometric PICs at the equilibrium state and the formation of the negatively charged PICs on addition of excess PEO-block-(PMA)Na to stoichiometric PIC solution were of interest. The chain exchange between the stoichiometric complexes was observed to occur via two mechanisms. The faster chain exchange occurs via insertion and expulsion of single chains, while merging and splitting of the PIC particles is behind the slower chain exchange event. Incorporation of an excess amount of the guest polyion into a stoichiometric PIC took place on further addition of the PEO-block-(PMA)Na. The same mechanisms were recognized in the overcharging process of the PICs as in the chain exchange between the stoichiometric PICs.