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Date of Award
2017
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Program
Physics
Department
Physics
College
Science and Mathematics
Faculty Advisor
May, Sylvio
Description
In this thesis we have investigated electrostatic interactions at dielectric interfaces using theoretical models based on the non-linear Poisson-Boltzmann theory and its extensions. We have focused on three major topics: (1) modeling the energetics and interactions of charged nanoparticles trapped at the air-water interface; (2) calculation of the line tension between domains in charged lipid membranes, lipid-lipid correlations, and how membrane curvature is influenced by charged peptides; and (3) extensions of the classical Poisson-Boltzmann theory by accounting for the influence of ion-specific solvent-mediated interactions. More precisely, ion-specificity has been accounted for using the Poisson-Helmholtz-Boltzmann formalism, which adds to the bare Coulombic interactions a Yukawa-like potential that accounts for the interacting hydration shells of ions. Motivated by recent experimental and computational results, all projects present here aim to provide a deeper understanding of fundamental physical properties of charged dielectric interfaces.
Recommended Citation
Volpe Bossa, Guilherme, "Electrostatic Interactions at Dielectric Interfaces: From Colloids to Membranes" (2017). Physics. 1.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/physics/1
Rights
NDSU Policy 190.6.2
Rights Link
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0001-5956-8504
Handle Identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/10365/26707