Living polymers in a size-asymmetric electrolyte

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a living polymers transition in a charge-symmetric, size-asymmetric electrolyte through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing a phase with polymeric chains and rings at low temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces the existence of a living polymers transition in electrolyte solutions without anisotropic interactions, supported by simulation and mean-field theory.

Findings

Presence of large, alternating-charge chains and rings at low temperatures

Polymeric phase exhibits very weak electrical conductivity

Transition explained by a mean-field chain association model

Abstract

A living polymers transition is found in molecular dynamics simulations of a charge-symmetric size-asymmetric electrolyte with no anisotropic interactions. The fluid has strong polymeric character at low temperatures, where it consists of large, alternating-charge linear chains and rings in chemical equilibrium. A mean-field theory of chain association is consistent with the existence of such a transition. In the polymeric phase the system is very weakly conducting or electrically insulating.