Computer Simulation Insight into the Adsorption and Diffusion of Polyelectrolytes on Oppositely Charged Surface

Abstract

In the present work, by means of computer simulation, we studied the adsorption and diffusion of polyelectrolyte macromolecules on oppositely charged surfaces. We considered the surface coverage and the charge of the adsorbed layer depending on the ionization degree of the macromolecules and the charge of the surface and carried out a computer experiment on the polymer diffusion within the adsorbed layers, taking into account its strong dependency on the surface coverage and the macromolecular ionization degree. The different regimes were distinguished that provided maximal mobility of the polymer chains along with a high number of charged groups in the layer, which could be beneficial for the development of the functional coatings. The results were compared with those of previous experiments on the adsorption of polyelectrolyte layers that may be applied as biocidal renewable coatings that can reversibly desorb from the surface.