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Networked Nanogels from Self‐Assembly of End‐Functionalized Polymers at the Vapor/Liquid Interface: Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Author(s) -
Xiang Wenjun,
Zhu Zhaoju,
Zhou Lvshan,
Wang Kun,
Chen Jinhui
Publication year - 2019
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.201800052
Subject(s) - polymer , van der waals force , molecular dynamics , materials science , chemical physics , phase (matter) , diffusion , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , chemistry , molecule , composite material , computational chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Abstract Polymers confined at a vapor/liquid interface are particularly interesting and important as the immiscibility degree of polymers in the vapor phase is typically much less than in the liquid phase. With the help of molecular dynamics simulations, the self‐assembled monolayers of end‐functionalized polymers at the vapor/liquid interface are analyzed as a function of surface coverage, end‐attraction strength, and simulation temperature. Typical self‐assembled structures of end‐functionalized polymers such as rod‐like, branch‐like aggregates and scaffold‐like network gels have been successfully observed. Moreover, large end‐attraction interactions result into more ordered and stable networked gel configuration by providing enough scaffold crossing points in the networked framework. However, high temperature increases the diffusion coefficient of the polymers, meanwhile destroys networked structure. The potential of mean force demonstrates that the van der Waals interactions between polymer chains generate the aggregation of polymer backbones with side‐to‐side pattern, while the end‐group interactions lead to the aggregation of end‐groups of the polymers with end‐to‐end pattern. However, the end‐group interactions majorly mediate the formation of networked gels at the vapor/liquid interface. Our studies provide a deeper understanding of the formation of networked gels at vapor/liquid interface, and they can also guide the robust target‐specified design of nanostructured network materials.