Electrophoresis of a charge inverted macroion complex: Molecular dynamics study
Abstract
Charge inversion phenomenon of a macroion in a solvent with multivalent salt is studied, applying a constant electric field by molecular dynamics simulations. Interactions of the macroion with surrounding ionic and neutral environment are treated with the explicit use of ions and neutral particles. In a weak electric field, a complex of the macroion drifts with condensed counterions and coions along the electric field, in the direction proving inversion of the charge sign for large Bjerrum length and multivalent counterions. The reversed macroion mobility is insensitive to the applied field, and increases with salt ionic strength. The reversed mobility is maximized at intermediate counterion valence. A very large electric field, comparable to the macroion unscreened field, disrupts charge inversion by stripping the counterions off the macroion.Keywords
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