AbstractThelong-timepuzzleofmolybdenumbluesolutions.docVIP

Hydrophilic Macroionic Solutions – Where Simple ions, Colloids and Polyelectrolytes/biomacromolecules Meet Tianbo Liu A. Schulman Professor, Department of Polymer Sciences, University of Akron, Akron, OH. Our research focuses on exploring the transition stage between traditional simple ions and large colloidal particles – macroionic solutions, and addresses the fundamental question “what happens when soluble inorganic ions reach the size of nanometer scale?” In this regime the charged solutes have solution behavior fundamentally different from the above two categories. The best model macroions are polyoxometalate (POM) macroanions and metal-organic hybrid cations – both are structurally well-defined, strictly monodispersed molecular clusters with sometimes accurately tunable charge density. Such macroions tend to strongly attract with each other although they carry the like charges, and demonstrate unique self-assembly behaviors involving counter-ion-mediated attractions. In dilute solutions, the macroions with moderate charges tend to reversibly self-assemble into robust, single-layered, hollow, spherical “blackberry” structures while the blackberry size can be accurately controlled by the solvent content, macroionic charge density or solution pH. The blackberry structure represents a universal, free-energy favored state of soluble inorganic ions which have large sizes and carry moderate amount of charges. Many unexpected, exciting phenomena have been observed in macroionic solutions. The hydrophilic maroions offer an important connection between traditional fields such as simple ions, colloidal suspensions and polyelectrolytes (including proteins and DNAs). The blackberry formation mimics some biological processes, such as the virus capsid shell formation, in many aspects, from the formation mechanism to the permeability to small cations. The macroions can also be used as simple but valuable models to understand some fundamental biological behavior