A mean-field approach is used to analyze equilibrium conformations of polyelectrolyte dendrigrafts comprising ionically charged dendrons attached by focal points to a flexible linear backbone. Power law dependences for local structural parameters, cross-sectional thickness and intergraft distance, are derived as a function of grafting density and degree of branching of the dendrons. The cases of quenched and pH-sensitive ionization of the dendrons are considered. The finite extensibility of the backbone is taken into account. It is demonstrated that an increase in the degree of branching of the dendrons leads to a decrease in the dendrigraft thickness compared with that of the polyelectrolyte molecular brush with the same degree of polymerization of the side chains, while intergraft distance either increases or stays close to counter length of fully extended backbone spacer. The analytical mean-field theory predictions are confirmed by results of numerical self-consistent field modelling.

中文翻译：

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聚电解质树突理论

平均场方法用于分析聚电解质树枝状移植物的平衡构象，包括通过焦点连接到柔性线性主链上的带离子电荷的树枝状结构。局部结构参数、横截面厚度和接枝间距离的幂律依赖性是作为接枝密度和树枝分支度的函数导出的。考虑了树枝的淬灭和 pH 敏感电离的情况。考虑了主干的有限可扩展性。结果表明，与具有相同侧链聚合度的聚电解质分子刷相比，树枝状支化度的增加导致树枝状接枝厚度的减小，而移植间隔增加或保持接近完全延伸的主干间隔物的反长度。数值自洽场建模的结果证实了解析平均场理论的预测。