Polyelectrolyte solution under spatial and dielectric confinement

Abstract: Polyelectrolytes under confinement are crucial for energy storage and for understanding biomolecular functions. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we analyze a polyelectrolyte solution confined between two oppositely charged planar dielectric surfaces and include surface polarization effects due to dielectric mismatch at the two electrodes. Although the effect of polarization on the charge distribution seems minor, we find that surface polarization enhances energy storage and also leads to the emergence of negative differential capacitance in confined polyelectrolyte solutions.