Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
08:44
Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles
Published on: March 2, 2020
11.6K
Equilibration of Micelle-Polyelectrolyte Complexes: Mechanistic Differences between Static and Annealed Charge
Jennifer E Laaser1, Michael McGovern1, Yaming Jiang1
1Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|April 26, 2017
Summary
Charge annealing in polyelectrolyte complexation significantly impacts micelle structure and stability. Rearrangement of charged sites influences complex formation, affecting outcomes based on component ratios.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Polyelectrolyte complexation is crucial for self-assembled nanomaterials.
- Understanding charge density and mobility effects is key to controlling complex formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of charge annealing and density in polyelectrolyte complexation.
- To compare systems with mobile versus fixed charge distributions on polymer chains.
Main Methods:
- Systematic comparison of two micelle-polyelectrolyte systems: PDMAEMA-b-PS/PSS and P(DMAEMA-stat-OEGMA)-b-PS/PSS.
- Characterization techniques included turbidimetric titration, dynamic light scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.
- Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze ion pair rearrangement barriers.
Main Results:
- Charge annealing allows charge redistribution, favoring ion pairing and influencing complex stability and rearrangement kinetics.
- Mobile charge distributions promote single-micelle species in excess micelles but trap complexes in excess polyanion.
- Static charge distributions exhibit opposite behavior, with reduced charge density promoting rearrangement only in excess polyanion.
Conclusions:
- The ability of charge distributions to rearrange during complexation fundamentally alters the kinetics and outcomes of polyelectrolyte complex formation.
- Charge density and mobility are critical parameters for designing and controlling polyelectrolyte complex self-assembly.
More Related Videos
09:38Fabrication Procedures and Birefringence Measurements for Designing Magnetically Responsive Lanthanide Ion Chelating Phospholipid Assemblies
Published on: January 3, 2018
7.6K
08:54Vibrational Spectra of a N719-Chromophore/Titania Interface from Empirical-Potential Molecular-Dynamics Simulation, Solvated by a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid
Published on: January 25, 2020
6.0K
Related Concept Videos
01:30Micelles
51
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
51
01:29Potential Due to a Polarized Object
843
A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
843
01:29The Colloidal State
28
The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called...
28
01:28Induced Electric Dipoles
4.9K
A permanent electric dipole orients itself along an external electric field. This rotation can be quantified by defining the potential energy because the external torque does work in rotating it. Then, the potential energy is minimum at the parallel configuration and maximum at the antiparallel configuration. While the former is a stable equilibrium, the latter is an unstable equilibrium.
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
4.9K
01:30The Electrical Double Layer
15
In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...
15
01:24Electrochemical Systems
19
Electrochemical systems provide a fascinating insight into the dynamic interplay of charged species within various phases. One notable example is the interaction between a membrane permeable to K⁺ ions but not to Cl⁻ ions, separating an aqueous KCl solution from pure water. As K⁺ ions diffuse through the membrane, they generate net charges on each phase, leading to a potential difference between them.Similarly, when a piece of Zn is immersed in an aqueous ZnSO₄ solution,...
19