(397b) Dynamics in Weakly-Ordered Oppositely-Charged Polyelectrolyte Complex Solutions

Recent experiments by Krogstad et al [1] determined the phase diagram of coacervate hydrogels formed by oppositely-charged triblock polyelectrolytes. Disordered and ordered phases were observed on the salt concentration-polymer concentration plane as determined by small-angle scattering methods and cryo-transmission electron microscopy. The ordered phases were in agreement with equilibrium structures calculated with an embedded fluctuation model by Audus et al [2]. Of current interest is in the dynamics of these highly-charged polyelectrolyte hydrogels. A close examination of the dilute disordered region by dynamic light scattering show strong clustering behavior. These large-scale clusters in the disordered region are a hierarchical assembly of micelles building blocks. The equilibrium between clusters and micelles was examined for well-defined 1:1 stoichiometric by charge mixtures of anionic and cationic functionalized poly(allyl glycidyl ether) end blocks with poly(ethylene glycol) middle block. Our new small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering results will be discussed to understand the solution structure on the temperature-concentration phase diagram plane.

[1] DV Krogstad et al. Macromolecules, 46, 1512 (2013). DV Krogstad et al. J. Phys. Chem. B, 118, 13011 (2014).

[2] DJ Audus et al. Soft Matter, 11, 1214 (2015).