Phase Behavior of Copolymers Confined in Multi-Walled Nanotubes: Insights from Simulations

Polymers

Yuxin Zuo¹  Guoqiang Wang¹  Ying Yu¹  Chuncheng Zuo¹  Luyou Shi¹  Fulei Shi¹  Jie Wei¹ 

[1] College of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China; E-Mails:

关键词: self-assembly;    block copolymers;    multi-walled nanotubes;    phase behavior;    molecular dynamics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/polym7010120

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In this paper, the self-assembly process of diblock copolymers confined in multi-walled cylindrical nanotubes is systematically investigated using a molecular dynamics (MD) method. The dependence of resultant morphologies on the degree of confinement and on the interaction strength between nanotubes and copolymers is studied comprehensively. When the wall surfaces are not preferential, results indicate that geometric confinement significantly influences copolymer conformations. In addition, the thickness of the helical lamellar structure increases with interaction strength and confinement size. In cases where the nanotubes are strongly attracted to one copolymer block, the confinement effect weakens as geometric space increases. Findings explain the dependence of chain conformation on the degree of confinement and the strength of surface preferences.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.