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Thermodynamic Model of Structure and Shape in Rigid Polymer‐Laden Membranes
Author(s) -
Murugesan Yogesh K.,
Rey Alejandro D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.200900044
Subject(s) - curvature , membrane , polymer , liquid crystal , materials science , orientation (vector space) , adsorption , thermodynamics , chemical physics , chemistry , composite material , geometry , physics , mathematics , biochemistry , optoelectronics
A mechanical formulation for multi‐component rigid‐rod‐like polymer‐laden membranes is integrated with the Gibbs‐Duhem equation to describe the role of temperature and adsorption on membrane shape and on the nematic liquid crystal order of the embedded polymer. The rigid‐rod polymer model incorporates curvo‐philic effects promoting polymer re‐orientation along curvature directions and curvo‐phobic effects promoting polymer re‐orientation away from curvature directions, while the membrane curvature energy is described with the Helfrich formulation. The couplings between thermodynamical variables, polymer liquid crystalline order, and membrane curvature are demonstrated and characterized. The theory provides a road‐map to manipulate shape and structure in membranes containing fibers, proteins, and rod‐like polymers.