Ion partitioning effect on the electrostatic interaction between two charged soft surfaces

TL;DR

This paper theoretically examines how ion partitioning influences electrostatic interactions between two charged soft surfaces with grafted polyelectrolyte layers, revealing enhanced electrostatic potential and osmotic pressure effects.

Contribution

It introduces a Poisson-Boltzmann model accounting for ion partitioning and dielectric permittivity differences, providing new insights into electrostatic interactions in soft matter systems.

Findings

Ion partitioning enhances electrostatic potential between surfaces.

Electrostatic interaction increases with polyelectrolyte layer thickness and Debye length.

Decreasing ion radius amplifies ion partitioning effects.

Abstract

We theoretically investigate electrostatic properties between two charged surfaces with a grafted polyelectrolyte layer in an aqueous electrolyte solution by using the Poisson-Boltzmann approach accounting for ion partitioning. In order to consider the ion partitioning effect, we focus on changes of electrostatic properties due to the difference in dielectric permittivity of the polyelectrolyte layer and the aqueous electrolyte solution. We find that ion partitioning enhances electrostatic potential in the region between two charged soft surfaces and hence increases the electrostatic interaction between two charged soft surfaces. Ion partitioning effect on osmotic pressure is enhanced not only by an increase in the thickness of polyelectrolyte layer and Debye length but also by a decrease in ion radius.