Polyelectrolytes polarization in non-uniform electric fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how condensed counterions influence the stretching of polyelectrolytes in non-uniform electric fields using hybrid simulations, with applications to translocation and entropic traps.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid simulation approach to study counterion effects on polyelectrolyte deformation in inhomogeneous electric fields, highlighting new insights into polymer translocation.

Findings

Counterions significantly affect polymer stretching dynamics.

Inhomogeneous fields induce complex translocation behaviors.

Simulation results inform design of microfluidic devices.

Abstract

Stretching dynamics of polymers in microfluidics is of particular interest for polymer scientists. As a charged polymer, a polyelectrolyte can be deformed from its coiled equilibrium configuration to an extended chain by applying uniform or non-uniform electric fields. By means of hybrid lattice Boltzmann-molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate how the condensed counterions around the polyelectrolyte contribute to the polymer stretching in inhomogeneous fields. As an application, we discuss the translocation phenomena and entropic traps, when the driving force is an applied external electric field.