Open AccessCommunication: Lateral phase separation of mixed polymer brushes physisorbed on planar substrates
Author(s) -
Reid C. Van Lehn,
Alfredo AlexanderKatz
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of chemical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 357
eISSN - 1089-7690
pISSN - 0021-9606
DOI - 10.1063/1.3653937
Subject(s) - planar , brush , monte carlo method , polymer , spheres , polymer brush , materials science , lattice (music) , statistical physics , mean field theory , entropy (arrow of time) , phase (matter) , chemical physics , condensed matter physics , physics , thermodynamics , mathematics , computer science , polymerization , quantum mechanics , composite material , statistics , astronomy , acoustics , computer graphics (images)
Here, we present a new method to model lateral phase separation in mixed polymer brushes physisorbed to a planar surface with mobile grafting points. The model is based on a local mean field theory that combines a Flory-Huggins approximation for interaction enthalpies with an Alexander-de Gennes brush entropy contribution. Using Monte Carlo sampling, the application of these two interactions to a lattice model yields a range of phase behavior consistent with previous theoretical and experimental work. This model will be useful for predicting mixed polymer brush morphologies on planar surfaces and in principle can be extended to other geometries (e.g., spheres) and polymer systems.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Graduate Research Fellowship Program)National Science Foundation (U.S.). Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (Program) (DMR–0819762
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