Figure 2.

(a–c) Potentials of mean force between like-charged PEs with different intrinsic persistence lengths P for different salt conditions: 3:3 salt concentration c_3:3 = 0 (a), 0.5 mM (b) and 5 mM (c). (d–f) Charge fraction f(r) of ions around the PEs at x = 8σ for different salts: c_3:3 = 0 (d), 0.5 mM (e), and 5 mM (f). The insets are Δf(r) = f(r)_x=2σ- f (r)_x=8σ at the corresponding salt conditions. It is noted that f(r) and Δf(r) include all types of salt ions and counterions; see Eq. (8). Please note that the systems were always in the presence of 20 mM 1:1 salt buffer as described in “Model and simulations” section.