title: Interaction modes between asymmetrically and oppositely charged rods.
abstract: The interaction of oppositely and asymmetrically charged rods in salt-a simple model of (bio)macromolecular assembly-is observed via simulation to exhibit two free energy minima, separated by a repulsive barrier. In contrast to similar minima in the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, the governing mechanism includes electrostatic attraction at large separation, osmotic repulsion at close range, and depletion attraction near contact. A model accounting for ion condensation and excluded volume is shown to be superior to a mean-field treatment in predicting the effect of charge asymmetry on the free-energy profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
authors.forename: Hanne S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Antila
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Van Tassel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sammalkorpi