Berlin 2012 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 22: Poster: Charged Soft Matter

CPP 22.15: Poster

Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 11:00–13:00, Poster A

Chain conformation of polyelectrolytes at surfaces as deduced from the surface forces — •Stephan Block¹ and Christiane A. Helm² — ¹ZIK HIKE - Zentrum für Innovationskompetenz Humorale Immunreaktionen bei kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen, Fleischmannstr. 42 - 44, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany — ²Institut für Physik, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 6, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany

The measurement of force profiles can be used to determine the chain conformation adopted by polymers and polyelectrolytes after deposition to a surface. Usually, for each conformation a characteristic length scale exists which sets the interaction length of the force profile. E.g., the electrostatic interaction usually dominates the surface forces of flatly physisorbed polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution; the characteristic length scale is the Debye length which is controlled by the ionic strength. We show how the scaling of the characteristic length can be used to obtain information about the chain conformation when the ionic strength is varied. Additionally, we apply existing theories to measured force profiles and evaluate their feasibility.