良溶剂中环形高分子单链的结构与动力学性质的模拟研究

本文采用多粒子碰撞动力学与分子动力学耦合的模拟方法研究了环形高分子单链在良溶剂中的静态与动态性质,并与线形分子进行了对比.研究发现,环形高分子链内粒子之间的平均距离小于线形链,即粒子排列得更加紧密;相应的均方回转半径也小于线形链,线形链与环形链的均方回转半径的比值为1.77;同时,环形链扩散的速度也比线形链快,两者比值为1.10.模拟结果揭示了扩散行为是排斥体积作用和流体力学相互作用耦合的结果,在扩散过程中,流体力学相互作用消减了排斥体积作用对扩散行为的贡献.此外,通过对有和没有流体力学相互作用的多粒子碰撞动力学得到的结果作对比,研究了流体力学相互作用对高分子静态和动态行为的影响,结果表明,流体力学相互作用使高分子链在极稀溶液中的扩散速度变快.     

线形高分子共混熔体的平衡态性质

采用分子动力学模拟的方法研究了长短链二元线形高分子共混熔体在平衡态下的结构、动力学性质以及黏度.结果表明:共混对组分的结构性质没有影响,共混体系中2组分各自的均方回转半径以及均方末端距均与单分散体系中相同;共混显著地影响动力学性质,即长链在共混体系中的扩散和松弛会加快,相反,短链的扩散和松弛则会变慢;另外,该共混体系的黏度符合简单的线性叠加.     

环形高分子单链塌缩的熔球中间态及其热力学解释

采用动态蒙特卡洛分子模拟研究了环形高分子单链在不良溶剂中发生塌缩转变时可逆地出现具有核-壳结构特征的熔球中间态,发现该结构特征与相同链长的线形单链基本相同,表明其只与链的长短有关,而与链端基的特殊效应无关.本工作将这一现象与单链单晶在其平衡熔点附近出现的类似现象相互关联,采用表面预溶模型来解释单链塌缩出现熔球中间态的热力学机理.分子量越低,熔球越小,表面预溶现象就越显著,塌缩转变随热力学条件变化就越缓慢.实际的高分子体系由于链内拓扑缠结,在表面未必能充分释放片段链,达不到理论预期的平衡态.表面预溶使得相分离临界点或晶体熔点附近在界面厚度方向上存在链单元能量状态不连续分布,这在微观分子水平上与临界界面连续浓度梯度的传统理论处理不一致,为我们深入理解高分子流体界面的微观结构带来帮助.     

高分子动力学的单链模型

高分子单链模型是高分子稀溶液理论研究的基本模型.对其进行深入地分析,不仅有助于解决高分子稀溶液体系中溶液黏度和分子链扩散等基本问题,而且能够增进人们对高分子链结构与溶液性质间关联性的理解.虽然基于经典连续性介质力学的流体动力学理论可以定性,甚至半定量地获得稀溶液的一些重要性质,但是,随着科学技术的发展,人们从分子水平上建立了许多描述高分子稀溶液性质的模型和理论,期望能够定量地描述高分子稀溶液的性质.本文以高分子稀溶液中3个典型的单链模型为例(包括:不含流体力学相互作用的Rouse模型、含二体流体力学相互作用的Zimm模型和含多体流体力学相互作用的部分穿透球模型),综述高分子稀溶液的重要性质,并详细地给出其动力学方程的推导过程及其重要的研究进展.特别是,对于Rouse模型,本文还将其预言结果拓展到了短链高分子流体体系;此外,还介绍了这一领域的关键科学问题、发展前景和研究方向.     

线形、梳形和星形高分子静态和动态性质的模拟

以梳形高分子为纽带,基于粗粒化分子动力学模拟方法,研究了线形、梳形和星形拓扑结构高分子的静态和动态性质,以揭示稀溶液中高分子链行为与链拓扑结构依赖关系的一般性规律.研究结果表明,随着线形-梳形-星形的链拓扑结构转变,回转半径的标度关系由仅依赖分子聚合度转变为同时依赖链聚合度与臂数或侧链数.分析了星形高分子和梳形高分子的静态和动态性质的特征规律.星形高分子的臂数增加使其尺寸迅速减小,形状则由长椭球形转变为类球形,且扩散系数也随之增加;其均方回转半径(〈R_g〉)和扩散系数(D)与分子聚合度(N)及臂数(f)的标度规律为〈R_g〉~N~(0.581)f~(-0.402),D~N~(-0.763)f~(0.227).梳形高分子的静态与动态性质与分子聚合度及侧链数的依赖关系为〈R_g〉~N~(0.597)f~(-0.212)(每个支化点只有一条侧链)和〈R_g〉~N~(0.599)f~(-0.316)(每个支化点有多条侧链).     

Monte Carlo模拟方法研究管道受限对高分子链缠结的影响

采用基于格子模型的Monte Carlo模拟方法,考察了链长分别为30和250的线形高分子在管道内受限状态下的尺寸及扩散性质.结果表明,当线形高分子的链长低于其缠结链长时,其受限条件下高分子的性质随受限程度的变化而单调变化;而当线形高分子的链长大于缠结链长时,高分子的性质表现出非单调性,进而说明受限具有一定程度的解缠结...     

线形-树状体杂化嵌段共聚物的分子设计、超分子组装及应用

线形-树状体杂化嵌段共聚物是由树枝状高分子嵌段(D)与线形高分子链(L)通过化学键连接而成的一类特殊拓扑结构的共聚物.本文综述了LD两嵌段和DLD三嵌段杂化共聚物的分子设计合成、超分子组装及应用方面近年来的最新研究进展.     

聚电解质链在中等受限凝胶网络中的“受挫”动力学

带电大分子在拥堵受限水环境中的运动对于许多生命过程以及生物大分子的运输与功能至关重要.以往人们认为处于受限环境下的高分子链都能进行自由扩散运动,且遵从爱因斯坦扩散方程.即使在最强烈的受限环境下,高分子链仍能进行一维无规扩散运动,其动力学符合管道模型.我们通过实验结合理论,设计凝胶网络尺寸与高分子链尺寸的比例来调控分子链受限环境的强弱,首次发现了大分子在中等受限环境下违背了爱因斯坦扩散方程,高分子整链是不能自由扩散运动的,但是一条链内的局部链段可以在每个凝胶网格内做多级局部松弛运动.其本质是高分子整链的质心运动需要其同时克服多个熵垒,从而实现一条高分子链在所有熵阱内的链段可以同时朝着一个方向做协同运动,而这在实验的观测时间尺度内几乎是不可能实现的,因此高分子链就被“困住”,形成一种能长期存在的非扩散型的亚稳态,我们将这一新型动力学定义为非扩散型拓扑动力学.本文首先对“受限环境”——带电水凝胶的物理性质进行介绍,第二部分介绍了带电大分子在浓溶液中的耦合动力学,最后介绍带电大分子在受限环境下的非扩散型拓扑动力学,包括由熵驱动的和由焓驱动的非扩散型动力学.     

环型嵌段高分子的强分凝理论方法

环型嵌段高分子没有自由端,分相结构会存在两种嵌段共混相区,使经典的线型嵌段高分子强分凝理论不能适用.在强分凝极限下,推导了两个共混相区之间的界面能,并结合两端固定在不同界面上的链的拉伸能,从而建立了环型嵌段高分子的强分凝理论研究方法.将此理论应用于环型两嵌段高分子体系,发现环型链比等链长的线型链更难相分离,且相结构周期远小于线型链.这与自洽场理论的结果一致.将此理论应用于环型三嵌段高分子,发现三元相图中心附近出现多种无共混相区的砖块堆积结构,而在靠近相图边缘部分,即组分比例较不对称时,含共混相区的层状和柱状结构占优势.     

聚合物单分子力谱的研究进展

在单分子水平研究聚合物体系的分子内及分子间相互作用, 对于揭示其结构-性能的关系, 进而实现对相应功能的调控极为重要. 基于原子力显微镜技术(AFM)的单分子力谱, 由于其操作简单且适用面广, 在单分子研究领域得到了广泛的应用. 本文概括了该技术在生物高分子及合成高分子体系的研究进展. 对于生物高分子体系, 主要介绍了核酸(DNA/RNA)、 蛋白质和多糖(淀粉)的单分子力谱研究及利用各自力学指纹谱对其它分子间的相互作用的研究. 对于合成高分子体系, 主要介绍了聚合物的一级结构与单链弹性的关系及溶剂和聚集态结构等对高分子单链力学性质的影响规律.     

Complex macromolecular dynamics:: I. Estimation technique for time-resolved emission anisotropy ratio of chromophores incorporated into polymer chains

Time-resolved fluorescence emission anisotropy ratios of carbazolyl groups incorporated into polystyrene chains in polyethyleneoxide(PEO)/1,2-dichloroethane mixtures have been measured by the single photon counting method. The fluorescence depolarization method is very excellent to clarify various dynamical modes of polymer chains, and many theoretical and experimental researches have so far been reported in the field of polymer chain dynamics. However there are few reports about the dynamics on the polymer side chain, because the dynamical mechanism of the polymer side chain is very complicated. In this report we tried to analyze the dynamical modes of the polymer side chains by the fluorescence depolarization method. Five dynamical modes of a polymer chain based on the Wöessner model were estimated by our original analytical technique `χ²-map method'. The value of each mode of a polymer side chain was discussed above the overlap concentration (C^*) of PEO and the micro-environments were clarified in the vicinity of the chromophore attached to the polymer side chain.     

Influence of molecular topology on the static and dynamic properties of single polymer chain in solution

The influence of molecular topology on the structural and dynamic properties of polymer chain in solution with ring structure, three-arm branched structure, and linear structure are studied by molecular dynamics simulation. At the same degree of polymerization (N), the ring-shaped chain possesses the smallest size and largest diffusion coefficient. With increasing N, the difference of the radii of gyration between the three types of polymer chains increases, whereas the difference of the diffusion coefficients among them decreases. However, the influence of the molecular topology on the static and the dynamic scaling exponents is small. The static scaling exponents decrease slightly, and the dynamic scaling exponents increase slightly, when the topology of the polymer chain is changed from linear to ring-shaped or three-arm branched architecture. The dynamics of these three types of polymer chain in solution is Zimm-like according to the dynamic scaling exponents and the dynamic structure factors.     

Effect of macro-RAFT agent on the morphology of polymer dispersed liquid crystals

In this study, macro-(RAFT) reversible additional fragmental chain transfer agent prepared by reversible additional fragmental chain transfer polymerisation has been incorporated into polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). The effects of concentration, molecular weight and glass transition temperature of macro-RAFT agent were studied in terms of morphology, polymerisation kinetics, molecular weight of polymer matrix and electro-optical properties of the films. It was found that the key factor influencing morphology was the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain rather than polymerisation rate and molecular weight of polymer matrix. Furthermore, the decrease in the mobility of macro-RAFT agent chain caused less liquid crystal nematic fraction, smaller liquid crystal domain size and greater driving voltage.     

Control of Intrachain Morphology in the Formation of Polyfluorene Aggregates on the Single-Molecule Level

Controlling the morphology of π-conjugated polymers for organic optoelectronic devices has long been a goal in the field of materials science. Since the morphology of a polymer chain is closely intertwined with its photophysical properties, it is desirable to be able to change the arrangement of the polymers at will. We investigate the π-conjugated polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO), which can exist in three distinctly different structural phases: the α-, β-, and γ-phase. Every phase has a different chain structure and a unique photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. Due to its unique properties and the pronounced spectral structure-property relations, PFO can be used as a model system to study the morphology of π-conjugated polymers. To avoid ensemble averaging, we examine the PL spectrum of single PFO chains embedded in a non-fluorescent matrix. With single-molecule spectroscopy the structural phase of every single chain can be determined, and changes can be monitored very easily. To manipulate the morphology, solvent vapor annealing (SVA) was applied, which leads to a diffusion of the polymer chains in the matrix. The β- and γ-phases appear during the self-assembly of single α-phase PFO chains into mesoscopic aggregates. The extent of β- and γ-phase formation is directed by the solvent-swelling protocol used for aggregation. Aggregation unequivocally promotes formation of the more planar β- and γ-phases. Once these lower-energy more ordered structural phases are formed, SVA cannot return the polymer chain to the less ordered phase by aggregate swelling.     

Dynamics and scaling of polymers in a dilute solution: analytical treatment in two and higher dimensions

We consider the dynamical scaling of a single polymer chain in good solvent. In the case of two-dimensional systems, Shannon and Choy [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 1455 (1997)] have suggested that the dynamical scaling for a dilute polymer solution breaks down. Using scaling arguments and analytical calculations based on the Zimm model, we show that the dynamical scaling of a dilute two-dimensional polymer system holds when the relevant dynamical quantities are properly extracted from finite systems. Most important, the polymer diffusion coefficient in two dimensions scales logarithmically with system size, in excellent agreement with our extensive computer simulations. This scaling is the reason for the failure of the previous attempts to resolve the dynamical scaling of dilute two-dimensional polymer systems. In three and higher dimensions our analytic calculations are in agreement with previous results in the literature.     

Investigating the Dynamic Viscoelasticity of Single Polymer Chains using Atomic Force Microscopy

In single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), many studies have focused on the elasticity and conformation of polymer chains, but little attention has been devoted to the dynamic properties of single polymer chains. In this study, we measured the energy dissipation and elastic properties of single polystyrene (PS) chains in toluene, methanol, and N,N‐dimethylformamide using a homemade piezo‐control and data acquisition system externally coupled to a commercial atomic force microscope (AFM), which provided more accurate information regarding the dynamic properties of the PS chains. We quantitatively measured the chain length‐dependent changes in the stiffness and viscosity of a single chain using a phenomenological model consistent with the theory of viscoelasticity for polymer chains in dilute solution. The effective viscosity of a polymer chain can be determined using the Kirkwood model, which is independent of the intrinsic viscosity of the solvent and dependent on the interaction between the polymer and solvent. The results indicated that the viscosity of a single PS chain is dominated by the interaction between the polymer and solvent. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1736–1743     

Polymer chain dynamics at interfaces: role of boundary conditions at solid interface

Using classical molecular dynamics simulations, we study the dynamical properties of a single polymer chain dissolved in an explicit solvent and strongly adsorbed at solid-liquid interface. To circumvent a serious challenge posed by finite size effects due to long-range hydrodynamic effects, we developed a correction procedure that substantially limits the finite size effects. Concurrently, we provide an analysis of distinctly different size effects in the directions transverse and normal to the interface. We find that on analytically smooth interfaces, corresponding to the slip boundary condition, the motions of the polymer chain and the surrounding solvent are hydrodynamically coupled. This leads to the chain diffusion coefficient D scaling with the chain degree of polymerization N as D approximately N(-3/4), consistent with the Zimm dynamics for strongly adsorbed chains. Introduction of transverse forces at the interface results in loss of correlation between the motion of the polymer chain and the solvent. Consequently, D approximately N(-1), which is a characteristic of the Rouse dynamics.     

Effect of graft polymer prepared by living radical polymerisation on electro-optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal

In this study, a graft polymer matrix prepared by living radical polymerisation had been incorporated into polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). The electro-optical properties of the PDLCs were investigated. The results showed that the length and density of graft chain had a great influence on the memory effect of the PDLCs. Low-driving-voltage and weak-memory-effect PDLCs could easily be obtained with a graft polymer matrix.     

Exploring polymer solubility with thermally-responsive Diels-Alder monomers: Revisiting the monkey's fist

Thermo-responsive monomers were designed to contain a Diels-Alder (DA) adduct such that cyclo-reversion would yield either the maleimide or the furan unit attached to the polymer chain. These thermally responsive monomers were then copolymerized with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization to yield linear gradient-copolymer structures as a comparison to existing nanogel/starlike systems to understand how polymer topology and composition influence solution-state properties. Using UV–Vis spectroscopy, it was determined that solution-state properties were thermally dependent and influenced by a number of variables such as comonomer feed ratio, polymer chain end functionality, and polymer backbone length and composition. Manipulation of the feed ratio allowed for control over the cloud point, including the breadth and location of phase separation. Thermal treatment of these copolymers revealed tunable and predictable variations in previously observed transitions, directly correlated to cleavage of the DA adducts and change in polymer backbone composition. Finally, on cooling cycles, a double sigmoid was sometimes observed, indicating a complex globule to random coil transition correlated to polymer chain end composition. These studies help understand how to untie the “monkey's fist.”