Mesoscale modeling of sulfonated polyimides copolymer membranes: Effect of sequence distributions

Deposition patterns formed by the evaporation of linear diblock copolymer solution nanodroplets on solid surfaces

The evaporation-induced deposition pattern of the linear diblock copolymer solution has attracted attention in recent years. Given its critical applications, we study deposition patterns of the linear diblock copolymer solution nanodroplet on a solid surface (the wall) by molecular dynamics simulations. This study focuses on the influence of the nonbonded interaction strength, including the interaction between the wall and polymer blocks (ɛAW and ɛBW), the interaction between the solvent and the wall (ɛSW), and the interaction between polymer blocks (ɛAB). Conditions leading to diverse deposition patterns are explored, including the coffee-ring and the volcano-like structures. The formation of the coffee-ring structure is attributed to receding interfaces, the heterogeneity inside the droplet, and the self-assembly of polymer chains. This study contributes to the establishment of guidelines for designing deposition patterns of the linear diblock copolymer solution nanodroplet, which facilitates practical applications such as inkjet printing.

A Structure Independent Molecular Fragment Interfuse Model for Mesoscale Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation of Peptides

There is a need to develop robust computational models for mesoscale simulation of the structure of peptides over large length scales toward the discovery of novel peptides for medical applications to address the issues of peptide aggregation, enzymatic degradation, and short half-life. The primary objective was to predict the structure and conformation of peptides whose native structures are not known. This work presents a new model for computation of interaction parameters between the beads in coarse-grained dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulation that is properly calibrated for amino acids, supports compressibility requirement of water molecules, and accounts for subtle differences in the structure of amino acids and the charge in the side chain of charged amino acids. This new model is referred to as Structure Independent Molecular Fragment Interfuse Model, abbreviated as SIMFIM, because it accounts for specific interactions between different beads, which represent molecular fragments of the amino acids, in calculating nonbonded interaction parameters in the absence of knowing the actual peptide structure. The electrostatic interactions are incorporated in this model by using a normal distribution of charges around the center of the beads to prevent the collapse of oppositely charged soft beads. The uniquely parameterized DPD force field in the SIMFIM model is optimized for a given peptide with respect to the degree of coarse-grained graining for simulating the peptide over long times and length scales. The SIMFIM model was tested in this work using four peptides, namely, TrpZip2, Rubrivinodin, Lihuanodin, and IC3-CB1/Gai peptides, whose structures were sourced from the Protein Data Bank. The SIMFIM model predicted radius of gyration (Rg) values for the peptides closer to the actual structures as compared to the conventional model, and there was less deviation between the predicted and actual structures of the peptides.

Simulated and Experimental Trends Regarding Water Uptake in Polymeric Electrolyte Membranes

Polymeric membranes in an anion or a proton exchange membrane fuel cell need sufficient hydration in order to provide a high hydroxide ion or proton conductivity. The water uptake for six model ionomer membranes, all of the same ion exchange capacity, is modeled by dissipative particle dynamics. The architectures cover three types of families that are of potential interest in fuel cell membrane research. All architectures consist of connected hydrophobic backbone A beads, to which side chains are grafted. For the type I family, the hydrophilic (functional) C beads are pendent on (amphiphilic) [AxC] side chains. The type II architecture contains both hydrophobic [A4] and short hydrophilic [C] side chains. For type III, the C beads are embedded along various locations within the [AxCAy] side chains (x + y = constant). For similar equilibrium time, the membrane water volume fraction increases with side chain length x for type I, and for type III, it increases with the distance x that C beads are separated from the backbone. Among the architectures (types I and III) for which the number of covalent C-A bonds are the same, the water uptake increases with the average number of A-A and A-C bonds (dpd springs) between A beads and the nearest C bead. A picture emerges in which for similar ion exchange capacity model membranes water uptake increases as a function of ⟨Nbondphob-phyl⟩.

Coarse-Grained Modeling of Ion-Containing Polymers

Ion-containing polymers have continued to be an important research focus for several decades due to their use as an electrolyte in energy storage and conversion devices. Elucidation of connections between the mesoscopic structure and multiscale dynamics of the ions and solvent remains incompletely understood. Coarse-grained modeling provides an efficient approach for exploring the structural and dynamical properties of these soft materials. The unique physicochemical properties of such polymers are of broad interest. In this review, we summarize the current development and understanding of the structure-property relationship of ion-containing polymers and provide insights into the design of such materials determined from coarse-grained modeling and simulations accompanying significant advances in experimental strategies. We specifically concentrate on three types of ion-containing polymers: proton exchange membranes (PEMs), anion exchange membranes (AEMs), and polymerized ionic liquids (polyILs). We posit that insight into the similarities and differences in these materials will lead to guidance in the rational design of high-performance novel materials with improved properties for various power source technologies.