Macroscopic forces in inhomogeneous polyelectrolyte solutions

Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics. 2023. Vol. 107. No. 2. Article 024503.

Budkov Y., Kalikin N.

In this paper, we present a self-consistent field theory of macroscopic forces in spatially inhomogeneous flexible chain polyelectrolyte solutions. We derive an analytical expression for a stress tensor which consists of three terms: isotropic hydrostatic stress, electrostatic (Maxwell) stress, and stress rising from conformational entropy of polymer chains—conformational stress. We apply our theory to the description of polyelectrolyte solutions confined in a conductive slit nanopore and observe anomalous behavior of disjoining pressure and electric differential capacitance.

Keywords: полиэлектролиты, Polyelectrolytes, Disjoining pressure, Расклинивающее давление, дифференциальная электрическая емкость, self-consistent field theory, теория самосогласованного поля, Stress tensor, тензор напряжений, Electric differential capacitance