Surface-induced layer formation in polyelectrolytes

The formation of a layered structure by microsegregation around a charged surface in a mixture of polyelectrolytes of opposite weak charge is analyzed. Random phase approximation reveals the possibility of forming a number of stable layers given a surface with sufficiently strong charge even at temperatures at which the bulk of the mixture is homogeneous. The concentration fluctuates at a wavelength inversely proportional to half of the charge density of the polyelectrolytes near the microphase transition.