Electro-optic studies of polarisation processes in aqueous macromolecular solutions and colloid suspensions

✍ Scribed by B.R. Jennings

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1977
• Weight: 907 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-4487
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-4487(77)80011-3

✦ Synopsis

A brief description is given of the electric birefringence and electric light scattering methods for characterising macromolecules in dilute solution.

Whereas these methods have not been extended over the wide frequency range of dielectric measurements, they can be used to study aqueous solutions and suspensions in direct current fields.

Representative data are collated which indicate (i) the significant role that the particle surface plays in the electrical polarisation of the medium and (ii) the high sensitivity of electro-optic methods to this interface.

The methods not only offer an experimental approach to the study of the electric double layer and the stability of particles in suspension but also provide a means of following the interaction of both small and large molecules with macromolecules in solution. Mention is also made as to how the atomic polarisability can be discretely isolated from the total polarisability, by using the recently developed method of laser induced birefringence.