Diblock copolymers with a charged block in a selective solvent: Micellar structure

The structure of the micelles formed by a diblock copolymer with one neutral and one polyelectrolyte block dissolved in highly selective aqueous solutions is studied by the scaling method. In this case an insoluble neutral block forms the core of the micelle, while the corona consists of stretched polyelectrolyte chains. It is taken into account that the corona region can partially lose some of the counterions which can go to the outer solution; therefore the corona is always slightly charged. In some regimes the corona consists of two layers: the inner layer with the concentration blob structure and the outer layer with the electrostatic blob structure. The diagram of states showing different regimes of behavior of the micelles is constructed.