Ion multivalence and like-charge polyelectrolyte attraction.
It is known empirically that multivalent ions generate attractions between like-charged polyelectrolytes, with different valence requirements for different systems. How multivalent must an ion be before it can condense a given polyelectrolyte? Using charge-tunable M13 virus rods and a family of artificial homologous "dumbbell" divalent ions of different sizes, we have constructed a multivalent ion-polyelectrolyte phase diagram, and find an experimentally motivated general criterion for like-charged attraction based on the ion valence, ion size, and the Gouy-Chapman length.
Butler
John C
JC
Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Angelini
Thomas
T
Tang
Jay X
JX
Wong
Gerard C L
GC
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D017104:Bacteriophage M13 / Q000737:chemistry*; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000737:chemistry; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D055672:Static Electricity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D014965:X-Rays
D000838:Anions; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D004573:Electrolytes