By means of multiscale molecular simulation, we show that solvophilic–solvophobic AB diblock copolymer brushes in the semi-dilute regime present a re-entrant disorder/order/disorder transition. The latter is fully controllable through two parameters: the grafting density and the solvophobic to solvophilic ratio of the tethered macromolecules. Upon increasing density, chains first aggregate into patches, then further order into a crystalline phase and finally melt into a disordered phase. We demonstrate that the order/disorder transition can be explained through the peculiar properties of the aggregates: upon increasing density, the aggregation number grows as expected. On the contrary, their projection on the plane shrinks, thus melting the emergent ordered phase. Such a density dependent shrinkage, seen for the first time as the cause to an order/disorder phase transition, is as a consequence of the entropic/enthalpic competition that characterises the hierarchical self-assembly of the brush.
Capone, B., Likos, C.N., Coluzza, I. (2021). Grafting density induced reentrant disorder–order–disorder transition in planar di-block copolymer brushes. SOFT MATTER [10.1039/D0SM02154G].
Grafting density induced reentrant disorder–order–disorder transition in planar di-block copolymer brushes
Barbara Capone
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2021-01-01
Abstract
By means of multiscale molecular simulation, we show that solvophilic–solvophobic AB diblock copolymer brushes in the semi-dilute regime present a re-entrant disorder/order/disorder transition. The latter is fully controllable through two parameters: the grafting density and the solvophobic to solvophilic ratio of the tethered macromolecules. Upon increasing density, chains first aggregate into patches, then further order into a crystalline phase and finally melt into a disordered phase. We demonstrate that the order/disorder transition can be explained through the peculiar properties of the aggregates: upon increasing density, the aggregation number grows as expected. On the contrary, their projection on the plane shrinks, thus melting the emergent ordered phase. Such a density dependent shrinkage, seen for the first time as the cause to an order/disorder phase transition, is as a consequence of the entropic/enthalpic competition that characterises the hierarchical self-assembly of the brush.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.