Theory of inhomogeneous weakly charged polyelectrolytes

A theory of inhomogeneous multicomponent systems containing weakly charged polyelectrolytes is developed. The theory treats the polymer conformation a nd the electrostatics simultaneously using a functional integral representa tion of the partition function. A mean-field approximation to the theory le ads to two sets of coupled mean-field equations: a Poisson-Boltzmann type e quation describing the electrostatic potential. and a set of self-consisten t field equations describing the equilibrium densities. Asymptotic forms of the theory at weak and strong segregation limits an derived. The theory ca n be used to study the interracial properties, microphase structures, and a dsorptions of a variety of weakly charged polyelectrolyte: systems. As a si mple example, the interface between the polymer-rich and polymer-poor phase s of a polyelectrolyte solution is studied.