Abstract
Polyelectrolyte brushes consist of a set of charged linear macromolecules, each tethered at one end to a surface. An example is the glycocalyx which refers to hair-like negatively charged sugar molecules that coat the outside membrane of all cells. We consider the transport and equilibrium distribution of ions and the resulting electrical potential when such a brush is immersed in a salt buffer containing monovalent cations (sodium and/or potassium). The Gouy-Chapman model for ion screening at a charged surface captures the effects of the Coulombic force that drives ion electrophoresis and diffusion but neglects non-Coulombic forces and ion pairing. By including the distinct binding affinities of these counter-ions with the brush and their so-called Born radii, which account for Born forces acting on them when the permittivity is nonuniform, we propose modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck continuum models that show the distinct profiles that may result depending on those ion-specific properties.
Recommended Citation
Ceely, W. J., Chugunova, M., Nadim, A., & Sterling, J. D. (2025). Modeling Ion-specific Effects In Polyelectrolyte Brushes: A Modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck Model. Physical Review E, 111(1) American Physical Society.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.111.014416
Department(s)
Business and Information Technology
Second Department
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2470-0053; 2470-0045
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2025 American Physical Society, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2025
PubMed ID
39972900
Included in
Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons, Health Information Technology Commons, Technology and Innovation Commons
