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Elasticity of fluctuating charged membranes probed by X-ray grazing-incidence diffuse scattering

G. Brotons1,2,3, L. Belloni2, Th. Zemb2 and T. Salditt1

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We have investigated the structure, fluctuations and elasticity parameters of charged fluid membranes composed of didodecyldimethylammonium halide bilayers (DDAX) with different counterions (X = Cl or Br) by non-specular (diffuse) X-ray scattering. The samples have been prepared as highly aligned thick stacks on silicon support and have been swollen at controlled osmotic pressures. From line-shape analysis of the diffuse scattering, we can determine the fluctuation amplitudes of the membranes in the Łα phase and the characteristic correlation lengths. According to the Caillé model, the measured structural parameters have been expressed in terms of the exponent η and smectic penetration length λ, from which the smectic compression modulus B (J/m3) and the bending modulus K (J/m) have been determined, as a function of the swelling state. We show that the results are in quantitative agreement with the mean-field electrostatic Poisson-Boltzmann calculations, controlled by the bilayers surface charge density (surfactant head groups with free or condensed counterions).


PACS

62.20.D- Elasticity

87.16.D- Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles

61.05.cm X-ray reflectometry (surfaces, interfaces, films)

Subjects

Biological physics

Condensed matter: structural, mechanical & thermal

Dates

Issue 6 (September 2006)

Received 14 April 2006, accepted for publication 26 July 2006, in final form 26 July 2006

Published 23 August 2006



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