Rheology of Polyelectrolyte Solutions: Current Understanding and Perspectives

Abstract

Polyelectrolytes with ionic groups are abundant in nature and essential in life. Counterions can be released into a solution and leave charges on polyelectrolyte chains, making the solution properties significantly different from those of electrically neutral polymers. A lot of scientific efforts have been made to elucidate the effect of electrostatic interactions on the conformation and material properties of polyelectrolyte solutions. However, unfortunately, our understanding is still far away from being perfect, and continuous efforts need to be provided by researchers from different aspects. This short review will highlight the research progress made in the past few years on the conformation and viscoelastic properties of polyelectrolyte solutions.