Polyelectrolyte solution under spatial and dielectric confinement

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to explore how dielectric confinement and surface polarization affect polyelectrolyte solutions, revealing enhanced energy storage and negative differential capacitance.

Contribution

It introduces the impact of surface polarization effects due to dielectric mismatch on confined polyelectrolyte solutions, a novel aspect in the field.

Findings

Surface polarization enhances energy storage capacity.

Negative differential capacitance emerges under dielectric confinement.

Polarization effects on charge distribution are minor.

Abstract

Polyelectrolytes under confinement are crucial for energy storage and for understanding biomolecular functions. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we analyze a polyelectrolyte solution confined between two oppositely charged planar dielectric surfaces and include surface polarization effects due to dielectric mismatch at the two electrodes. Although the effect of polarization on the charge distribution seems minor, we find that surface polarization enhances energy storage and also leads to the emergence of negative differential capacitance in confined polyelectrolyte solutions.