THEORY OF IONIZABLE POLYMER BRUSHES

The mean-field theory describing the conformation of an ionizable poly mer chain(weak polyacid or polybase) grafted at one end onto an imperm eable planar surface and immersed into a water-salt solution is presen ted. The dependences of the brush thickness and degree of chain ioniza tion on grafting density and ionic strength of the solution are analyz ed. It is shown that the annealing of the brush affects the brush stru cture mostly at low ionic strength of the solution and relatively spar se grafting. The nontrivial effect of an increase in the brush thickne ss with decreasing grafting density and/or increasing ionic strength i s predicted.