Complexation and overcharging of polyelectrolyte stars and charged colloids.

We examine the complexation behavior of polyelectrolyte stars on oppositely charged colloidal particles with similar sizes by means of computer simulations employing the molecular dynamics approach. In particular the overcharging phenomenon is considered and its dependence on the charge and functionality of the stars. The complexes thus formed are a realization of inverse patchy particles (Bianchi et al 2011 Soft Matter 7 8313) for which both the number of patches and the total charge can be tuned.