Dielectric-induced counterion partitioning and its effect on membrane rigidity.

We report on a nonthermal mechanism for counterion partitioning driven by dielectric contrasts in a charged system. This mechanism allows objects to remain charged even in very low dielectric mediums and at low temperatures, if a nearby high dielectric environment can host its counterions. This nonthermal counterion partitioning leads to an attractive counterion pressure that is usually much larger than the van der Waals forces.