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Mousavifard SM, Ghermezcheshme H, Mirzaalipour A, Mohseni M, de With G, Makki H. PolySMart: a general coarse-grained molecular dynamics polymerization scheme. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:2281-2296. [PMID: 37022310 DOI: 10.1039/d3mh00088e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of simulation methods to study the structure and dynamics of a macroscopically sized piece of polymer material is important as such methods can elucidate structure-property relationships. Several methods have been reported to construct initial structures for homo- and co-polymers; however, most of them are only useful for short linear polymers since one needs to pack and equilibrate the far-from-equilibrium initial structures, which is a tedious task for long or hyperbranched polymers and unfeasible for polymer networks. In this method article, we present PolySMart, i.e., an open-source python package, which can effectively produce fully equilibrated homo- and hetero-polymer melts and solutions with no limitation on the polymer topology and size, at a coarse-grained resolution and through a bottom-up approach. This python package is also capable of exploring the polymerization kinetics through its reactive scheme in realistic conditions so that it can model the multiple co-occurring polymerization reactions (with different reaction rates) as well as consecutive polymerizations under stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric conditions. Thus, the equilibrated polymer models are generated through correct polymerization kinetics. A benchmark and verification of the performance of the program for several realistic cases, i.e., for homo-polymers, co-polymers, and crosslinked networks, is given. We further discuss the capability of the program to contribute to the discovery and design of new polymer materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Mohammad Mousavifard
- Department of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Ghermezcheshme
- Department of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Mirzaalipour
- Department of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Mohseni
- Department of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran
| | - Gijsbertus de With
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, POB 513, NL-5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hesam Makki
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK.
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Morita M, Oya Y, Kato N, Mori K, Koyanagi J. Effect of Electrostatic Interactions on the Interfacial Energy between Thermoplastic Polymers and Graphene Oxide: A Molecular Dynamics Study. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14132579. [PMID: 35808625 PMCID: PMC9269160 DOI: 10.3390/polym14132579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the atomistic-scale mechanisms affecting the interfacial stability of a thermoplastic polymer/graphene oxide interface are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Different combinations of thermoplastic polymers (polyethersulfone (PES) and polyetherimide (PEI)) and graphene oxides modified with –O–, –OH, and –COOH are prepared. PES is found to be more strongly stabilized with modified/functionalized graphene oxide in the order of –COOH, –OH, –O–, which is opposite to the stability order of PEI. Our results suggest that these orders of stability are governed by a balance between the following two factors resulting from electrostatic interactions: (1) atoms with a strong charge bias attract each other, thereby stabilizing the interface; (2) the excluded-volume effect of the functional groups on graphene oxide destabilizes the interface by preventing π-π stacking of aromatic rings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayu Morita
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Graduate School, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan;
| | - Yutaka Oya
- Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-5876-1411
| | - Nobuhiko Kato
- Science and Engineering Systems Division ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6950, Japan; (N.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Kazuki Mori
- Science and Engineering Systems Division ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6950, Japan; (N.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Jun Koyanagi
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan;
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Infrared Linear Dichroism for the Analysis of Molecular Orientation in Polymers and in Polymer Composites. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14061257. [PMID: 35335588 PMCID: PMC8954227 DOI: 10.3390/polym14061257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanical properties of polymeric materials are strongly affected by molecular orientation occurring under processing conditions. Infrared dichroism is particularly well suited for characterizing polymer chain orientation at a molecular level. The usefulness of this technique has been demonstrated through various applications in homopolymers, semi-crystalline polymers, copolymers, polymer blends, as well as in polymer composites. Determination of molecular orientation can be carried out in the mid- and near-infrared ranges and very small dichroic effects can be detected with the use of a photoelastic modulator. Chain orientation in polymer composites is seen to increase with the filler content in the case of a strong interface between the two phases, making possible a quantification of the degree of bonding between the host polymeric matrix and the incorporated inclusions.
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Tanis I, Kostarellou E, Karatasos K. Molecular dynamics simulations of hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine)-graphene oxide nanocomposites as dye adsorbents for water purification. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:22874-22884. [PMID: 34668493 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02461b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Atomistically detailed molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study the adsorption capacity of graphene-oxide-based (GO) aqueous systems for the methylene blue (MB) dye in the presence of branched poly(ethylene imine) (BPEI) polymers. The polymeric component was either freely mixed or chemically attached to GO. The main focus was the elucidation of the effects originating from the presence of BPEI molecules in the association of MB with the formed GO complexes. The effect of temperature was also examined. It was found that the presence of the cationic BPEI molecules results in the formation of a distinct microenvironment characterized by a polymer-mediated interconnected morphology which promotes the development of larger-sized MB clusters. These clusters were found to form in the vicinity of the GO flakes, increasing thus the adsorption capacity of the dye molecules in the polymer-containing systems. Particularly in the system with the BPEI-functionalized GO flakes, a persistent percolated structure is formed, which results in a more restricted diffusion of the MB molecules, increasing thus significantly their residence time close to the GO surface. The clustering behavior of MB was found to be temperature-dependent in the BPEI-based models, providing useful information regarding the conditions for optimal adsorption performance of such membranes, in nanofiltration processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Tanis
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - E Kostarellou
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - K Karatasos
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Lado-Touriño I, Páez-Pavón A. Interaction between Graphene-Based Materials and Small Ag, Cu, and CuO Clusters: A Molecular Dynamics Study. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1378. [PMID: 34071127 PMCID: PMC8224558 DOI: 10.3390/nano11061378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The excessive use of antibiotics has contributed to the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and thus, new antibacterial compounds must be developed. Composite materials based on graphene and its derivatives doped with metallic and metallic oxide nanoparticles, particularly Ag, Cu, and Cu oxides, hold great promise. These materials are often modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to improve their pharmacokinetic behavior and their solubility in biological media. In this work, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the interaction between small Ag, Cu, and CuO clusters and several graphene-based materials. These materials include pristine graphene (PG) and pristine graphene nanoplatelets (PGN) as well as PEGylated graphene oxide (GO_PEG) and PEGylated graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GO-PEG_N). We calculated the adsorption energies, mean equilibrium distances between the nanoparticles and graphene surfaces, and mean square displacement (MSD) of the nanoclusters. The results show that PEGylation favors the adsorption of the clusters on the graphene surfaces, causing an increase in adsorption energies and a decrease in both distances and MSD values. The strengthening of the interaction could be crucial to obtain effective antibacterial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lado-Touriño
- School of Architecture, Engineering and Design, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain;
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Ghermezcheshme H, Makki H, Mohseni M, Ebrahimi M. Hydrophilic dangling chain interfacial segregation in polyurethane networks at aqueous interfaces and its underlying mechanisms: molecular dynamics simulations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:26351-26363. [PMID: 33179637 DOI: 10.1039/d0cp04244g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Polymer networks with hydrophilic dangling chains are ideal candidates for many submerged applications, e.g., protein non-adhesive coatings with non-fouling behavior. The dangling chains segregate from the polymer network towards the water and form a brush-like structure at the interface. Several factors such as the polymer network structure, dangling chain length, and water/dangling chain interaction may all affect the interfacial performance of the polymer. Therefore, we employed a Martini based coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to elucidate the influences of the abovementioned parameters on dangling chain interfacial segregation. We built up several polyurethane (PU) networks based on poly(tetra methylene glycol) (PTMG), as a macrodiol, and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG), as a dangling chain, with varying molecular weights. We found out that the macrodiol/dangling chain length ratio considerably smaller than one impedes the migration of dangling chains towards the water interface, while the dangling chain hydrophilicity and length determine the polymer interfacial layer density/thickness. Then, we artificially changed the dangling chain affinity to water from an intermediate to a very attractive water/dangling chain interaction. We justified that a brush-like structure forms in two consecutive steps: first, a longitudinal, and then a lateral migration of dangling chains in water. The latter step results in a uniform interfacial layer over the polymer interface that mainly occurs in the case of the attractive water/dangling chain interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Ghermezcheshme
- Department of Polymer and Color Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, 424 Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran.
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Kritikos G, Rissanou AN, Harmandaris V, Karatasos K. Bound Layer Polymer Behavior on Graphene and Graphene Oxide Nanosheets. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c01040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Kritikos
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Anastassia N. Rissanou
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion GR-71110, Greece
| | - Vagelis Harmandaris
- Institute of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion GR-71110, Greece
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Crete, Heraklion GR-71110, Greece
- Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus
| | - Kostas Karatasos
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
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Nazarychev VM, Larin SV, Lyulin AV, Dingemans T, Kenny JM, Lyulin SV. Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Initial Crystallization Stage in an SWCNT-Polyetherimide Nanocomposite. Polymers (Basel) 2017; 9:polym9100548. [PMID: 30965851 PMCID: PMC6418835 DOI: 10.3390/polym9100548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystallization of all-aromatic heterocyclic polymers typically results in an improvement of their thermo-mechanical properties. Nucleation agents may be used to promote crystallization, and it is well known that the incorporation of nanoparticles, and in particular carbon-based nanofillers, may induce or accelerate crystallization through nucleation. The present study addresses the structural properties of polyetherimide-based nanocomposites and the initial stages of polyetherimide crystallization as a result of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) incorporation. We selected two amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimides ODPA-P3 and aBPDA-P3 based on 3,3′,4,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA), 2,3′,3,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (aBPDA) and diamine 1,4-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenoxy]benzene (P3) and simulated the onset of crystallization in the presence of SWCNTs using atomistic molecular dynamics. For ODPA-P3, we found that the planar phthalimide and phenylene moieties show pronounced ordering near the CNT (carbon nanotube) surface, which can be regarded as the initial stage of crystallization. We will discuss two possible mechanisms for ODPA-P3 crystallization in the presence of SWCNTs: the spatial confinement caused by the CNTs and π–π interactions at the CNT-polymer matrix interface. Based on our simulation results, we propose that ODPA-P3 crystallization is most likely initiated by favorable π–π interactions between the carbon nanofiller surface and the planar ODPA-P3 phthalimide and phenylene moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Nazarychev
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Sergey V Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Alexey V Lyulin
- Theory of Polymers and Soft Matter Group, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Theo Dingemans
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Murray Hall 1113, 121 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3050, USA.
| | - Jose M Kenny
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
- Materials Science and Technology Centre, University of Perugia, Loc. Pentima, 4, 05100 Terni, Italy.
| | - Sergey V Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
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