Laktionov, MY, Zhulina, EB, Richter, RP orcid.org/0000-0003-3071-2837 et al. (1 more author) (2021) Polymer Brush in a Nanopore: Effects of Solvent Strength and Macromolecular Architecture Studied by Self-Consistent Field and Scaling Theory. Polymers, 13 (22). 3929. ISSN 2073-4360
Abstract
To study conformational transition occuring upon inferior solvent strength in a brush formed by linear or dendritically branched macromolecules tethered to the inner surface of cylindrical or planar (slit-like) pore, a self-consistent field analytical approach is employed. Variations in the internal brush structure as a function of variable solvent strength and pore radius, and the onset of formation of a hollow channel in the pore center are analysed. The predictions of analytical theory are supported and complemented by numerical modelling by a self-consistent field Scheutjens–Fleer method. Scaling arguments are used to study microphase segregation under poor solvent conditions leading to formation of a laterally and longitudinally patterned structure in planar and cylindrical pores, respectively, and the effects of confinement on "octopus-like" clusters in the pores of different geometries.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 by the authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) |
Keywords: | polymer brushes; nanopores; conformational transitions; pore opening/closing transition |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biomedical Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 24 Nov 2021 15:06 |
Last Modified: | 24 Nov 2021 15:06 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | MDPI |
Identification Number: | 10.3390/polym13223929 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:180511 |