Exact solution for a general FJC polyelectrolyte model with up to Next Nearest Neighbour Interactions

Abstract

This work presents a polyelectrolyte (PE) model based on a freely jointed chain (FJC) in which the beads are ionizable and the bonds are rigid. Electrostatic interactions considered are of the short range type up to next-nearest neighbours using a Debye-H\"uckel (DH) potential. Exact expressions for the conformational and protonation properties are obtained as a function of the pH using the transfer matrix method and the integration of the angular variables. For the finite cases with low N values, relevant differences arise on both the protonation curve and the end to end distance due to the end effects. However, when increasing N a rather rapid convergence is observed to the infinite chain limiting case.