Wetting Behavior of Complex Coacervates*

Complex coacervates are promising materials for use as underwater adhesives, inspired by biological systems of sand-castle worms and mussels. The performance of such adhesives depends on the wetting behavior of coacervates on solid surfaces. We analyze the wetting transition in systems where the polyelectrolyte adsorption is driven by electrostatic (electrowetting) and by nonelectrostatic forces (i.e. hydrogen bonding, hydrophobicity, coordination, etc.).