A simple approach for charge renormalization of highly charged macro-ions

Abstract

We revisit the popular notion of effective or renormalized charge, which is a concept of central importance in the field of highly charged colloidal or polyelectrolyte solutions. Working at the level of a linear Debye-Hückel like theory only, we propose a simple, efficient and versatile method to predict the saturated amount of charge renormalization, which is however a non-linear effect arising at strong electrostatic coupling. The results are successfully tested against the numerical solutions of Poisson-Boltzmann theory for polyions of various shapes (planar, cylindrical and spherical), both in the infinite dilution limit or in confined geometry, with or without added electrolyte. Our approach, accurate for monovalent micro-ions in solvents like water, is finally confronted against experimental results, namely the crystallization of charged colloidal suspensions and the osmotic coefficient of B-DNA solutions.