Effect of excluded volume interactions on the interfacial properties of colloid-polymer mixtures

We report a numerical study of equilibrium phase diagrams and interfacial properties of bulk and confined colloid-polymer mixtures using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Colloidal particles are treated as hard spheres, while the polymer chains are described as soft repulsive spheres. The polymer-polymer, colloid-polymer, and wall-polymer interactions are described by density-dependent potentials derived by Bolhuis and Louis [Macromolecules 35, 1860 (2002)]. We compared our results with those of the Asakura-Oosawa-Vrij model [J. Chem. Phys. 22, 1255 (1954); J. Polym Sci 33, 183 (1958); Pure Appl. Chem. 48, 471 (1976)] that treats the polymers as ideal particles. We find that the number of polymers needed to drive the demixing transition is larger for the interacting polymers, and that the gas-liquid interfacial tension is smaller. When the system is confined between two parallel hard plates, we find capillary condensation. Compared with the Asakura-Oosawa-Vrij model, we find that the excluded volume interactions between the polymers suppress the capillary condensation. In order to induce capillary condensation, smaller undersaturations and smaller plate separations are needed in comparison with ideal polymers.     

Morphological studies of blends of conjugated polymers and acceptor molecules using langevin dynamics simulations

We use coarse‐grained Langevin dynamics simulations of blends of generic conjugated polymers and acceptor molecules to show how architecture (e.g., side chains, backbone flexibility of oligomers) and the pair‐wise interactions between the constituents of the blend affect morphology and phase transition. Alkyl side chains on the conjugated oligomer backbones shift the liquid crystal (LC) transition temperature from that of bare conjugated backbones and the direction of the shift depends on backbone–backbone interactions. Rigid backbones and constrained side chains cause a layer‐by‐layer morphology of conjugated polymers and amorphous acceptors, whereas flexible backbones and unconstrained side chains facilitate highly ordered acceptor arrangement. Strong backbone–backbone attraction shifts LC transition to higher temperatures than weak backbone–backbone attraction, and strong acceptor–acceptor attraction increases acceptor aggregation. Pure macro‐phase separated domains form when all pair‐wise interactions in the blend are strongly attractive, whereas interconnected domains form at intermediate acceptor–acceptor attraction and strong polymer–polymer attractions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Simulation study of the equilibrium morphology in ionomers with different architectures

The influence of the side chain and the backbone segment length on the shape of the hydrophilic clusters in an ionomer with sulfonate‐terminated side chains is investigated by molecular dynamics computer simulations. Different ionomer architectures, ranging from Nafion‐like molecules to ionomer structures with extremely long side chains and backbone segments, are analyzed. It is shown that the size and the sulfonate population of hydrophilic clusters are differently affected by the variation of the backbone length in homologous membranes. Although the clusters swell when the backbone length is increased, they contain fewer head groups, and the average sulfonate–sulfonate separation in these swollen clusters becomes larger. An increase in the equivalent weight (EW) of homologous membranes thus hinders proton transport through hydrophilic channels. We also have shown that larger sulfonate clusters are formed in modified membranes with longer side chains. Compared to the case of membranes with shorter side chains but the same EW, those with longer side chains have a higher proton diffusivity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

良溶剂中接枝型聚两性电解质单链构象的布朗动力学模拟

采用布朗动力学研究了在良溶剂中荷电平衡的接枝聚两性电解质(GPA)的单链构象转变行为,讨论了主链链长、支链数及电荷密度对GPA分子链构象转变的影响.研究发现,随着静电相互作用的增强,GPA分子链构象转变过程由线团、主链与支链间的折叠、链段塌缩和电荷配对形成偶极子与四极子等4个阶段构成.与线型聚两性电解质不同,GPA存在的额外支链间空间排斥与静电排斥作用随着分子结构的变化而改变,并影响构象转变行为.在强静电相互作用下,良溶剂中的GPA链由于溶剂化作用会再伸展,以保证偶极子完全配对成四极子.减小主链长度或电荷密度或增加支链数目都会增大体系的排斥力和主链的刚性,阻滞分子链的塌缩,并使得分子链再伸展的幅度增大.     

Side chain length affects backbone dynamics in poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s

Charge transport in conjugated polymers may be governed not only by the static microstructure but also fluctuations of backbone segments. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we predict the role of side chains in the backbone dynamics for regiorandom poly(3‐alkylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl)s (P3ATs). We show that the backbone of poly(3‐dodecylthiophene‐2‐5‐diyl) (P3DDT) moves faster than that of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) as a result of the faster motion of the longer side chains. To verify our predictions, we investigated the structures and dynamics of regiorandom P3ATs with neutron scattering and solid state NMR. Measurements of spin‐lattice relaxations (T₁) using NMR support our prediction of faster motion for side chain atoms that are farther away from the backbone. Using small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS), we confirmed that regiorandom P3ATs are amorphous at about 300 K, although microphase separation between the side chains and backbones is apparent. Furthermore, quasi‐elastic neutron scattering (QENS) reveals that thiophene backbone motion is enhanced as the side chain length increases from hexyl to dodecyl. The faster motion of longer side chains leads to faster backbone dynamics, which in turn may affect charge transport for conjugated polymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1193–1202     

Solution behavior of polyimide‐graft‐polystyrene copolymers in selective solvents

A polyimide‐graft‐polystyrene (PI‐g‐PS) copolymer with a polyimide backbone and polystyrene side chains was synthesized by the “grafting from” method using styrene polymerization on a polyimide multicenter macroinitiator via ATRP mechanism. The side chain grafting density z = 0.86 of PI‐g‐PS is rather high for graft‐copolymers synthesized by the ATRP method. Molecular characteristics and solution behavior of PI‐g‐PS were studied in selective solvents using light scattering and viscometry methods. In all solvents, the backbone tends to avoid contact with a poor solvent. To describe the conformation and hydrodynamic properties of PI‐g‐PS macromolecules in thermodynamically good solvents for side chains and PI‐g‐PS, the wormlike spherocylinder model is used. Macromolecules of the studied graft‐copolymer are characterized by high equilibrium rigidities (Kuhn segment length >20 nm). In Θ‐conditions, PI‐g‐PS macromolecules may be modeled by a rigid prolate ellipsoid of revolution with a low asymmetry form and a collapsed backbone as the ellipsoid core. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1539–1546     

Molecular dynamics simulations of end‐grafted polymers with charged side chains

We report molecular dynamics simulations on bottle‐brush polyelectrolytes end‐grafted to a planar surface. For each bottle‐brush polyelectrolyte, flexible charged side chains are anchored to one neutral main chain. The effects of the counterion valence and the grafting density on the density profiles and the structural characteristics of the brush were studied in this work. It is found that the electrostatic repulsion between charged monomers in the side chains leads an extended conformation of the brush in a solution containing monovalent counterions, while strong electrostatic binding of multivalent counterions to the side chains has a significant contribution to the collapse of the brush. For the trivalent case, the distribution of end monomers in the main chains becomes broader upon decreasing the grafting density, as compared with the monovalent case. However, the position of the distribution for the monovalent case is relatively insensitive to the change of the grafting density. Additionally, with increased counterion valence, enhanced electrostatic correlation between counterions and charged side chains also weakens the diffusive ability of counterions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Phase behavior predictions for polymer blends containing reversibly associating endgroups

A mean field model is developed to predict how polymer–polymer miscibility changes if polymers are functionalized with noncovalent, reversibly binding endgroups. The free-energy model is based on the Flory–Huggins mixing theory and has been modified using Painter's association model to account for equilibrium self-association of endgroups. Model input parameters include the length of polymer chains, a temperature-dependent interaction parameter, and a temperature-dependent equilibrium constant for each type of associating endgroup. The analysis is applied to 12 possible blend combinations involving self-complementary interactions and seven combinations involving hetero-complementary [i.e. donor–acceptor (DA)] interactions. Combinations involve both monofunctional and telechelic associating chains. Predicted phase diagrams illustrate how self-complementary interactions can stabilize two-phase regions and how DA interactions can stabilize single phase regions. The model is a useful tool in understanding the delicate balance between the combinatorial entropy of mixing polymer chains, the repulsive interactions between dissimilar polymers, and the additional enthalpic and entropic changes due to end-group association of chain ends. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3285–3299, 2007     

Graft interpenetrating polymer networks composed of epoxy resin and urethane acrylate resin

For enhancing the interpenetratoin and/or compatibility of the simultaneous interpenetrating networks (SINs) composed of epoxy resin (epoxy) and urethane acrylate resin (UAR), the graft epoxy consisting of different lengths of poly(oxypropylene) (PO) side chains were synthesized and characterized. It was found that the graft epoxy composed of short PO side chains [MW 480, epoxy-g-PO(480)] showed a compatible system while if consisting of longer PO grafts [MW 950, epoxy-g-PO(950)] exhibited a partial microphase separation morphology. DSC measurements as well as the SEM or TEM observation indicated that the interpenetration between the two phases for epoxy/UAR SINs including epoxy-g-PO(480) was improved appreciably due to the excellent miscibility between the PO grafts and PO segments existing in the graft epoxy and the UAR network, respectively. In this case, for SIN(80/20) containing 10 wt % of epoxy-g-PO(480) the tensile strength increases by a factor of 2.70 compared with that of pure epoxy network. However, the improvement of interpenetration and/or compatibility between the two networks as well as the mechanical properties for SINs composed of epoxy-g-PO(950) are limited resulting in the partial microphase separation of epoxy-g-PO(950) network's own self. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3568–3574, 1999     

Synthesis of double hydrophilic graft copolymer containing poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) side chains via successive ATRP

A well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer, with polyacrylate as backbone, hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methacrylic acid) as side chains, was synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains. The grafting‐through strategy was first used to prepare poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] comb copolymer. The obtained comb copolymer was transformed into macroinitiator by reacting with lithium diisopropylamine and 2‐bromopropionyl chloride. Afterwards, grafting‐from route was employed for the synthesis of poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) amphiphilic graft copolymer. The molecular weight distribution of this amphiphilic graft copolymer was narrow. Poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains were connected to polyacrylate backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections. The final product, poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate]‐g‐poly(methacrylate acid), was obtained by selective hydrolysis of poly(methoxymethyl methacrylate) side chains under mild conditions without affecting the polyacrylate backbone. This double hydrophilic graft copolymer was found be stimuli‐responsive to pH and ionic strength. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4056–4069, 2008     

Synthesis of ABA‐triblock and star‐diblock copolymers with poly(2‐adamantyl vinyl ether) and poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether) segments: New thermoplastic elastomers composed solely of poly(vinyl ether) backbones

ABA‐type triblock copolymers and AB‐type star diblock copolymers with poly(2‐adamantyl vinyl ether) [poly(2‐AdVE)] hard outer segments and poly(n‐butyl vinyl ether) [poly(NBVE)] soft inner segments were synthesized by sequential living cationic copolymerization. Although both the two polymer segments were composed solely of poly(vinyl ether) backbones and hydrocarbon side chains, they were segregated into microphase‐separated structure, so that the block copolymers formed thermoplastic elastomers. Both the ABA‐type triblock copolymers and the AB‐type star diblock copolymers exhibited rubber elasticity over wide temperature range. For example, the ABA‐type triblock copolymers showed rubber elasticity from about ?53 °C to about 165 °C and the AB‐type star diblock copolymer did from about ?47 °C to 183 °C with a similar composition of poly(2‐AdVE) and poly(NBVE) segments in the dynamic mechanical analysis. The AB‐type star diblock copolymers exhibited higher tensile strength and elongation at break than the ABA‐type triblock copolymers. The thermal decomposition temperatures of both the block copolymers were as high as 321–331 °C, indicating their high thermal stability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Conformation of ionizable poly Para phenylene ethynylene in dilute solutions

The conformation of dinonyl poly para phenylene ethynylenes (PPEs) with carboxylate side chains, equilibrated in solvents of different quality have been studied using molecular dynamics simulations. PPEs are of interest because of their tunable electro‐optical properties, chemical diversity, and functionality which are essential in wide range of applications. The polymer conformation determines the conjugation length and their assembly mode and affects electro‐optical properties which are critical in current and potential uses. This study investigates the effect of carboxylate fraction on PPEs side chains on the conformation of chains in the dilute limit, in solvents of different quality. The dinonyl PPE chains are modeled atomistically, where the solvents are modeled both implicitly and explicitly. Dinonyl PPEs maintained a stretched out conformation up to a carboxylate fraction f of 0.7 in all solvents studied. The nonyl side chains are extended and oriented away from the PPE backbone in toluene and in implicit good solvent, whereas in water and implicit poor solvent, the nonyl side chains are collapsed toward the PPE backbone. Rotation around the aromatic ring is fast and no long range correlations are seen within the backbone. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 582–588     

Modeling the amorphous phase of comb‐like polymers

In this work, we apply a methodology recently developed by us to perform atomistic simulations of the amorphous phase of poly(α‐octadecyl β‐aspartate) and poly‐ (octadecyl acrylate). The simulation method, which is denoted SuSi/CB, combines the strength of an algorithm specially designed to generate atomistic models of dense amorphous polymers and the Configurational Bias Monte Carlo procedure. Modeling results reveal that poly(octadecyl acrylate) presents a tendency to adopt backbone helical conformations, while no trace of helicity was detected in the amorphous phase poly(α‐octadecyl β‐aspartate). Regarding the side chain organization, the paraffinic pool formed by the octadecyl side chains is slightly greater for the poly(acrylate) than for the poly(β‐aspartate). According to these features, it can be concluded that the small chemical differences between the two investigated polymers are enough to provide some distinctive structural features. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 953–966, 2006     

A starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer with hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains

A well‐defined starlike amphiphilic graft copolymer bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by the hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of a graft copolymer with narrow molecular weight distribution. Hydrophobic polystyrene side chains were connected to the backbones through stable C? C bonds. The poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbones can be easily hydrolyzed with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic polystyrene side chains. This kind of amphiphilic graft copolymer can form stable sphere micelles in water. The sizes of the micelles were dependent on the ionic strength and pH value. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3687–3697, 2007     

A successive route to amphiphilic graft copolymers with a hydrophilic poly(3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) backbone and hydrophobic polystyrene side chains

A successive method for preparing novel amphiphilic graft copolymers with a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic side chains was developed. An anionic copolymerization of two bifunctional monomers, namely, allyl methacrylate (AMA) and a small amount of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), was carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) with 1,1‐diphenylhexyllithium (DPHL) as the initiator in the presence of LiCl ([LiCl]/[DPHL]₀ = 2), at −50 °C. The copolymer poly(AMA‐co‐GMA) thus obtained possessed a controlled molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w /M_n = 1.08–1.17). Without termination and polymer separation, a coupling reaction between the epoxy groups of this copolymer and anionic living polystyrene [poly(St)] at −40 °C generated a graft copolymer with a poly(AMA‐co‐GMA) backbone and poly(St) side chains. This graft copolymer was free of its precursors, and its molecular weight as well as its composition could be well controlled. To the completed coupling reaction solution, a THF solution of 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane was added, and this was followed by the addition of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. This hydroboration changed the AMA units of the backbone to 3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and an amphiphilic graft copolymer with a hydrophilic poly(3‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) backbone and hydrophobic poly(St) side chains was obtained. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1195–1202, 2000     

Energy transfer in poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐g‐Polyfluorene graft copolymers

Conjugated graft copolymers consisting of a poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) backbone and poly(9,9'‐dioctylfluorene) side chains (PF) with different grafting degrees were synthesized by the CuAAC reaction. The properties of these materials were studied by UV‐Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The former technique provides insight in their self‐assembly, while the latter is used to study the energy funneling from the PF side chains to the P3HT backbone. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1252–1258     

Novel amphiphilic graft copolymers bearing hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains

A novel amphiphilic graft copolymer consisting of hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) backbones and hydrophobic poly(butyl methacrylate) side chains was synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization followed by hydrolysis of poly‐(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone. A grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index < 1.40). Hydrophobic side chains were connected to the backbone through stable C? C bonds instead of ester connections. Poly(methoxymethyl acrylate) backbone was easily hydrolyzed to poly(acrylic acid) backbone with HCl without affecting the hydrophobic side chains. The amphiphilic graft copolymer could form stable micelles in water. The critical micelle concentration in water was determined by a fluorescence probe technique. The morphology of the micelles was preliminarily explored with transmission electron microscopy and was found to be spheres. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6857–6868, 2006     

Rheological study of transient networks with junctions of limited multiplicity. II. Sol/gel transition and rheology

Viscoelastic and thermodynamic properties of transient gels formed by telechelic associating polymers are studied on the basis of the transient network theory that considers the correlation among polymer chains via network junctions. The global information of the gel is incorporated into the theory by introducing elastically effective chains defined according to the criterion of Scanlan [J. Polym. Sci. 43, 501 (1960)] and Case [J. Polym. Sci. 45, 397 (1960)]. We also consider the effects of superbridges whose backbone is formed by several chains connected in series and containing several breakable junctions. The dynamic shear moduli of this system are well described in terms of the Maxwell model characterized by a single relaxation time and high-frequency plateau modulus. Near the critical concentration at the sol/gel transition, superbridges become infinitely long along the backbone, thereby leading to a short relaxation time tau for the network. It is shown that tau is proportional to the concentration deviation Delta near the gelation point. The plateau modulus G(infinity) increases as the cube of Delta near the gelation point as a result of the mean-field treatment, and hence the zero-shear viscosity increases as eta(0) approximately G(infinity)tau approximately Delta(4). The present model can explain the concentration dependence of the dynamic moduli observed for aqueous solutions of telechelic poly(ethylene oxide).     

Criss‐cross amphiphilic polymers and analogous model systems

A new class of amphiphilic polymers carrying two pendant docosyl (C22) chains, located at periodic intervals that are separated by PEG chains of varying lengths, was synthesized via a simple melt‐transesterification polymerization, using dimethyl, 2,5‐didocosyloxyterephthalate as one of the monomers. DSC, variable temperature FT‐IR, and WAXS studies demonstrated that immiscibility between the pendant docosyl units and the backbone PEG segments drives their self‐segregation; this results in the crystallization of the pendant docosyl segments and the generation of a lamellar morphology with the alkyl segments and the PEG chains occupying alternate layers. Based on the study of model criss‐cross amphiphiles that resemble the polymer repeat unit, it is postulated that the chains reconfigure such that both the docosyl chains fold to one side of the terephthalate unit while the PEG segments form a loop on the other side; these chains then organize in a bilayer to form the lamellar structure. The simplicity of the synthesis and the rather unique properties of these polymers suggests that such a design could be translated to develop other interesting functional materials that could exploit the immiscibility‐driven microphase separation for the generation of sub‐10 nm domains; these could have potential applications, such as in membranes, solid polymer electrolyte formulations, and so forth. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1554–1563     

A new numerical approach to dense polymer brushes and surface instabilities

We present a numerical self-consistent field (SCF) method which describes freely jointed chains of spherical monomers applied to densely grafted polymer brushes. We discuss both the Flory-Huggins model and the Carnahan-Starling equation of state and show the latter being preferable within our model at polymer volume fractions above 10%. We compare the results of our numerical method with data from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations [G.-L. He, H. Merlitz, J.-U. Sommer, and C.-X. Wu, Macromolecules 40, 6721 (2007)] and analytical SCF calculations [P. M. Biesheuvel, W. M. de Vos, and V. M. Amoskov, Macromolecules 41, 6254 (2008)] and obtain close agreement between the density profiles up to high grafting densities. In contrast to prior numerical and analytical studies of densely grafted polymer brushes our method provides detailed information about chain configurations including fluctuation, depletion, and packing effects. Using our model we could study the recently discovered instability of densely grafted polymer brushes with respect to slight variations of individual chain lengths, driven by fluctuation effects [H. Merlitz, G.-L. He, C.-X. Wu, and J.-U. Sommer, Macromolecules 41, 5070 (2008)]. The obtained results are in very close agreement with corresponding MD simulations.