The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

 Complex coacervation is a phenomenon in which phase separation occurs when two oppositely charged polyelectrolyte solutions are mixed, resulting in a mixed polymer dense phase and a dilute phase. The applications of coacervate widely ranges in various realms of science, while the molecular understanding of coacervates has rather fallen behind. Here in, tuning the ratio of charged monomers is considered a key parameter for controlling phase behavior. For effective charge control, our system utilizes polyampholytes—polymers that incorporate both cationic and anionic monomer units—as a versatile platform for exploring charge-driven phase separation. Through this study, we expect to see the influence of charge balance upon salt resistance and find out the dominant interaction of phase separation.