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Vahid H, Scacchi A, Sammalkorpi M, Ala-Nissila T. Interactions between Rigid Polyelectrolytes Mediated by Ordering and Orientation of Multivalent Nonspherical Ions in Salt Solutions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:158202. [PMID: 37115871 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.158202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Multivalent ions in solutions with polyelectrolytes (PEs) induce electrostatic correlations that can drastically change ion distributions around the PEs and their mutual interactions. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we show how in addition to valency, ion shape and concentration can be harnessed as tools to control rigid like-charged PE-PE interactions. We demonstrate a correlation between the orientational ordering of aspherical ions and how they mediate the effective PE-PE attraction induced by multivalency. The interaction type, strength, and range can thus be externally controlled in ionic solutions. Our results can be used as generic guidelines to tune the self-assembly of like-charged polyelectrolytes by variation of the characteristics of the ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Vahid
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Tapio Ala-Nissila
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Quantum Technology Finland Center of Excellence, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical Modelling and Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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