Structures of Polyelectrolytes In Differently Charged Colloidal Solutions

Polyelectrolytes are commonly used as a stabilizing agent in colloidal solutions, e.g., oil, lotion and etc. In addition to the electrostatic contribution, polyelectrolytes are capable of rearranging the nanoparticles into distinctive spatial organizations due to their unique conformational features, i.e., length, geometry and flexibility. This study explores the conformational changes of different types of model polyelectrolytes, e.g., flexible, semi-flexible and rigid polymers, when mixed with distinctively charged nanoparticles.  The conformation and the dynamics of the model polymers will be characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy approach. This knowledge will help us to elucidate the interactions between polyelectrolytes and colloidal particles and lead to an unambiguous identification of an energetic term accounting for the effects of polyelectrolytes on colloidal suspensions.