ISSN:
1089-7690
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Monte Carlo simulation has been used to study the configurational properties of a lattice-model isolated polyelectrolyte with attractive segment–segment interaction potentials. This model provides a simple representation of a hydrophobic polyelectrolyte. Configurational properties were investigated as a function of chain ionization, Debye screening length, and segment–segment potential. For chains with highly attractive segment–segment potentials (i.e., hydrophobic chains), large, global changes in polymer dimensions were observed with increasing ionization. The transformation from a collapsed chain at low ionization to an expanded chain at high ionization becomes increasingly sharp (i.e., occurs over a smaller range of ionization) with increasing chain hydrophobicity. The ionization-induced structural transitions for this model hydrophobic polyelectrolyte are analogous to pH-induced transitions seen in real polyelectrolytes and gels. These studies suggest a simple explanation for such transitions based on competing hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.458910
