Morphologies of semiflexible polyelectrolyte complexes

Abstract

Complexation between a stiff charged cylinder and an oppositely charged semiflexible polymer is studied using linear Debye-Hückel theory (valid for large enough salt concentration or weakly charged polymers). The salt-concentration–dependent phase diagram features helical and, favored for increasing stiffness of the wrapping polymer, straight wrapping morphologies. Non-linear (counterion release) effects are discussed on the scaling level.