Charge separation at liquid interfaces

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Majee, Arghya, Weber, Christoph A., Jülicher, Frank
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Majee, Arghya
Weber, Christoph A.
Jülicher, Frank
author_facet Majee, Arghya
Weber, Christoph A.
Jülicher, Frank
contents We present a theory for phase-separated liquid coacervates with salt, taking into account spatial heterogeneities and interfacial profiles. We find that charged layers of alternating sign can form around the interface while the bulk phases remain approximately charge-neutral. We show that the salt concentration regulates the number of layers and the amplitude of the layer's charge density and electrostatic potential. Such charged layers can either repel or attract single-charged molecules diffusing across the interface. Our theory could be relevant for artificial systems and biomolecular condensates in cells. Our work suggests that interfaces of biomolecular condensates could mediate charge-specific transport similar to membrane-bound compartments.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2310_07835
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Charge separation at liquid interfaces
Majee, Arghya
Weber, Christoph A.
Jülicher, Frank
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Chemical Physics
We present a theory for phase-separated liquid coacervates with salt, taking into account spatial heterogeneities and interfacial profiles. We find that charged layers of alternating sign can form around the interface while the bulk phases remain approximately charge-neutral. We show that the salt concentration regulates the number of layers and the amplitude of the layer's charge density and electrostatic potential. Such charged layers can either repel or attract single-charged molecules diffusing across the interface. Our theory could be relevant for artificial systems and biomolecular condensates in cells. Our work suggests that interfaces of biomolecular condensates could mediate charge-specific transport similar to membrane-bound compartments.
title Charge separation at liquid interfaces
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Chemical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.07835