Understanding the effect of inhomogeneity on the charge regulation and dielectric properties, and how it depends on the conformational characteristics of the polyelectrolytes is a long-standing problem. In order to address this problem, we have developed a field-theory to study charge regulation and local dielectric function in planar polyelectrolyte brushes. The theory is used to study a polyacid brush, which is comprised of chains end-grafted at the solid-fluid interface, in equilibrium with a bulk solution containing monovalent salt ions, solvent molecules, and pH controlling acid. Results on the theoretical predictions for the dielectric function, density profiles and comparison with the neutron reflectivity experiments will be presented.

Local dielectric function in inhomogeneous polymeric media

246th National Meeting (2013)

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