Accueil > Science et Technologie > Courrier du Savoir > Numéro 03

On the static and dynamic scattering from linear and Branched polyelectrolytes at various screening lengths

Ben hamou M., Bensafi A., Boussaid A., Bouzina L., Khaldi S.

During the two last decades, branched polyelectrolytes have been thoroughly studied from theoretical and experimental
standpoints. In this report, we attempt to compare the behaviour of highly branched polyelectrolytes to that of their linear
counterparts at low ionic strength. As expected, the expansion behaviour of the branched materials is considerably less than of
that of the corresponding linear chains. Surprisingly, in the former case (sphere-like behavior), the ratio of the radius of
gyration to the hydrodynamic radius ρ=Rg/Rh shows an opposite behaviour as compared to the second one (rod-like behavior) ;
indeed, contrary to the case of linear chains for which this ratio increases, that of branched homologous decreases as the ionic
strength is lowered. Analyzis of the data, depicted in Kratky plots, reveals substantial discrepancies between the both
polymeric structures. Moreover, at high ionic strength, one observes a rod-like structure that undergoes a transition to a
disordered conformation which is not however that of a random coil, whereas, at low one, it appears that the two double- helix
unfold and the loop strongly expands.