1
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Zhang B, Zheng C, Sims MB, Bates FS, Lodge TP. Influence of Charge Fraction on the Phase Behavior of Symmetric Single-Ion Conducting Diblock Copolymers. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1035-1040. [PMID: 35549119 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A series of symmetric poly[(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) propyl sodium sulfonate methacrylate)]-block-polystyrene (PsOEGMA-PS) diblock copolymers were synthesized as a model system to probe the effect of charge fraction on the phase behavior of charged-neutral single-ion conducting diblock copolymers. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments showed that increasing the charge fraction does not alter the ordered phase morphology (lamellar) but increases the order-disorder transition temperature (TODT) significantly. Additionally, the effective Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χeff) was found to increase linearly with the charge fraction, similar to the case of conventional salt-doped diblock copolymers. This indicates that the effect of counterion solvation, attributed to the significant mismatch between the dielectric constant of each block, provides the dominant effect in tuning the phase behavior of this charged diblock copolymer. We therefore infer that electrostatic cohesion (local charge ordering induced by Coulombic interactions), which is predicted to suppress microphase separation and lead to asymmetric phase diagrams, only plays a minor role in this model system.
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2
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Otto DP, de Villiers MM. Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics (CG-MD) Simulation of the Encapsulation of Dexamethasone in PSS/PDDA Layer-by-Layer Assembled Polyelectrolyte Nanocapsules. AAPS PharmSciTech 2020; 21:292. [PMID: 33090318 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-020-01843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental studies have reported the fundamental and applied science aspects of polyelectrolyte (PE) layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly. LbL nanocoating is a simple and robust technique that can be used to modify the surface properties of nearly any material. These modifications take place by adsorption of mere nanometers of PE to impart previously absent properties to the nanocoated substrate. Paper manufacturing, drug delivery, and antimicrobial applications have since been developed. LbL self-assembly has become a very lucrative field of research. Computational modeling of LbL nanocoating has received limited attention. PE simulations often require significant computational resources and make computational modeling studies challenging. In this study, atomic-level PE and dexamethasone models are developed and then converted into coarse-grained (CG) models. This modeling study is based on experimental results that were previously reported. The CG models showed the effect of salt concentration and the number of PE layers on the LbL drug nanocapsule. The suitability of the model was evaluated and showed that this model can serve as a predictive tool for an LbL-nanocoated drug delivery system. It is suggested that this model can be used to simulate LbL drug delivery systems before the experimental evaluation of the real systems take place.
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3
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Jiang J, Chen X, Yang S, Chen EQ. The size and affinity effect of counterions on self-assembly of charged block copolymers. J Chem Phys 2020; 152:124901. [PMID: 32241155 DOI: 10.1063/5.0002896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of counterions' size and affinity on the microphase separated morphologies of neutral-charged diblock copolymers is investigated systematically using a random phase approximation (RPA) and self-consistent field theory (SCFT). The phase diagrams as a function of χAB and fA at different counterion sizes and different affinities to neutral blocks are constructed, respectively. Stability limits calculated using the RPA are in good agreement with the disorder-body-centered cubic phase boundaries from SCFT calculations. It was found that increasing the size of counterions causes the phase diagram to shift upward and leftward, which is attributed to electrostatic interactions and the intrinsic volume of counterions. The domain size of the ordered phase shows an unexpected tendency that it decreases with increasing counterions' size. The counterions' distributions in H and G phases demonstrate that it is electrostatic interaction, instead of packing frustration, that plays a leading role in such systems. For finite size counterions, with the increase in affinity between counterions and neutral blocks, the phase diagram shifts upward, indicating the improved compatibility between different blocks. Furthermore, the affinity effect between counterions and neutral blocks can be mapped into an effective Flory parameter χAB ' = χAB + 0.27χBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadi Jiang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Er-Qiang Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
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4
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Shim J, Bates FS, Lodge TP. Superlattice by charged block copolymer self-assembly. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2108. [PMID: 31068597 PMCID: PMC6506472 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10141-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Charged block copolymers are of great interest due to their unique self-assembly and physicochemical properties. Understanding of the phase behavior of charged block copolymers, however, is still at a primitive stage. Here we report the discovery of an intriguing superlattice morphology from compositionally symmetric charged block copolymers, poly[(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) propyl sodium sulfonate methacrylate)]-b-polystyrene (POEGMA-PS), achieved by systematic variation of the molecular structure in general, and the charge content in particular. POEGMA-PS self-assembles into a superlattice lamellar morphology, a previously unknown class of diblock nanostructures, but strikingly similar to oxygen-deficient perovskite derivatives, when the fraction of charged groups in the POEGMA block is about 5-25%. The charge fraction and the tethering of the ionic groups both play critical roles in driving the superlattice formation. This study highlights the accessibility of superlattice morphologies by introducing charges in a controlled manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimin Shim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Frank S Bates
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Timothy P Lodge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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5
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Guo D, Khan AU, Liu T, Zhou Z, Liu G. Sub-10 nm domains in high-performance polyetherimides. Polym Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c8py01460d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
After condensation with polystyrene oligomers, ultra-low-molecular-weight polyetherimide-based triblock copolymers form disordered nanostructures with domain sizes less than 8 nm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Guo
- Department of Chemistry
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg
- USA
| | | | - Tianyu Liu
- Department of Chemistry
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg
- USA
| | | | - Guoliang Liu
- Department of Chemistry
- Virginia Tech
- Blacksburg
- USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute
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6
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Zhai C, Zhou H, Gao T, Zhao L, Lin S. Electrostatically Tuned Microdomain Morphology and Phase-Dependent Ion Transport Anisotropy in Single-Ion Conducting Block Copolyelectrolytes. Macromolecules 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Zhai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
| | - Huanhuan Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
| | - Teng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy & Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Lingling Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy & Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Shangchao Lin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, United States
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7
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8
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Yu C, Ma L, Li K, Li S, Liu Y, Liu L, Zhou Y, Yan D. Computer Simulation Studies on the pH-Responsive Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Carboxy-Terminated Polyester Dendrimers in Aqueous Solution. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:388-399. [PMID: 28001081 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates the pH-responsive self-assembly of an amphiphilic carboxyl-terminated polyester dendrimer, H20-COOH, in aqueous solution using the dissipative particle dynamics method. The electrostatic interactions were described by introducing the explicit interaction between the smeared charges on ionized polymer beads and the counterions. The results show that the self-assemblies could change from unimolecular micelles, microphase-separated small micelles, wormlike micelles, sheetlike micelles, and small vesicles to large vesicles with the decrease in the degree of ionization (α) of carboxylic acid groups. In addition, the detailed self-assembly mechanisms and the molecular packing models have also been disclosed for each self-assembly stages. Interestingly, the wormlike micelles are found to change from linear to branched when α decreases from 0.182 to 0.109. The current work might serve as a comprehensive understanding on the effect of carboxylic acid groups on the self-assembly behaviors of dendritic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Li Ma
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ke Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shanlong Li
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lifen Liu
- Center for Membrane and Water Science and Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology , Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yongfeng Zhou
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
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9
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Sing CE. Development of the modern theory of polymeric complex coacervation. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 239:2-16. [PMID: 27161661 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Oppositely charged polymers can undergo the process of complex coacervation, which refers to a liquid-liquid phase separation driven by electrostatic attraction. These materials have demonstrated considerable promise as the basis for complex, self-assembled materials. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the theoretical tools used to understand the physical properties of polymeric coacervates. In particular, we discuss historic theories (Voorn-Overbeek, Random Phase Approximation), and then describe recent developments in the field (Field Theoretic, Counterion Release, Molecular Simulation, and Polymer Reference Interaction Site Model methods). We provide context for these methods, and map out the patchwork of theoretical models that are used to describe a diverse array of coacervate systems. We use this review of the literature to clarify a number of important theoretical challenges remaining in our physical understanding of complex coacervation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Sing
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews Ave. Urbana IL, 61801, United States.
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10
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Radhakrishna M, Sing CE. Charge Correlations for Precise, Coulombically Driven Self Assembly. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201500278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mithun Radhakrishna
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 600 S. Mathews Ave Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | - Charles E. Sing
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 600 S. Mathews Ave Urbana IL 61801 USA
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11
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Dehghan A, Schick M, Shi AC. Effect of mobile ions on the electric field needed to orient charged diblock copolymer thin films. J Chem Phys 2015; 143:134902. [PMID: 26450329 DOI: 10.1063/1.4931826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We examine the behavior of lamellar phases of charged/neutral diblock copolymer thin films containing mobile ions in the presence of an external electric field. We employ self-consistent field theory and focus on the aligning effect of the electric field on the lamellae. Of particular interest are the effects of the mobile ions on the critical field, the value required to reorient the lamellae from the parallel configuration favored by the surface interaction to the perpendicular orientation favored by the field. We find that the critical field depends strongly on whether the neutral or charged species is favored by the substrates. In the case in which the neutral species is favored, the addition of charges decreases the critical electric field significantly. The effect is greater when the mobile ions are confined to the charged lamellae. In contrast, when the charged species is favored by the substrate, the addition of mobile ions stabilizes the parallel configuration and thus results in an increase in the critical electric field. The presence of ions in the system introduces a new mixed phase in addition to those reported previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Dehghan
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - M Schick
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - An-Chang Shi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
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12
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Mao R, Lee MT, Vishnyakov A, Neimark AV. Modeling Aggregation of Ionic Surfactants Using a Smeared Charge Approximation in Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:11673-83. [PMID: 26241704 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b05630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations, we explore the specifics of micellization in the solutions of anionic and cationic surfactants and their mixtures. Anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) are chosen as characteristic examples. Coarse-grained models of the surfactants are constructed and parameterized using a combination of atomistic molecular simulation and infinite dilution activity coefficient calibration. Electrostatic interactions of charged beads are treated using a smeared charge approximation: the surfactant heads and dissociated counterions are modeled as beads with charges distributed around the bead center in an implicit dielectric medium. The proposed models semiquantitatively describe self-assembly in solutions of SDS and CTAB at various surfactant concentrations and molarities of added electrolyte. In particular, the model predicts a decline in the free surfactant concentration with the increase of the total surfactant loading, as well as characteristic aggregation transitions in single-component surfactant solutions caused by the addition of salt. The calculated values of the critical micelle concentration reasonably agree with experimental observations. Modeling of catanionic SDS-CTAB mixtures show consecutive transitions to worm-like micelles and then to vesicles caused by the addition of CTAB to micellar solution of SDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runfang Mao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey , 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Ming-Tsung Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey , 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Aleksey Vishnyakov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey , 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Alexander V Neimark
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey , 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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13
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Sing CE, Zwanikken JW, de la Cruz MO. Theory of melt polyelectrolyte blends and block copolymers: Phase behavior, surface tension, and microphase periodicity. J Chem Phys 2015; 142:034902. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4905830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Sing
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Jos W. Zwanikken
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Monica Olvera de la Cruz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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14
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Vishnyakov A, Neimark AV. Self-assembly in Nafion membranes upon hydration: water mobility and adsorption isotherms. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:11353-64. [PMID: 25157931 DOI: 10.1021/jp504975u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
By means of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, we explored geometrical, transport, and sorption properties of hydrated Nafion-type polyelectrolyte membranes. Composed of a perfluorinated backbone with sulfonate side chains, Nafion self-assembles upon hydration and segregates into interpenetrating hydrophilic and hydrophobic subphases. This segregated morphology determines the transport properties of Nafion membranes that are widely used as compartment separators in fuel cells and other electrochemical devices, as well as permselective diffusion barriers in protective fabrics. We introduced a coarse-grained model of Nafion, which accounts explicitly for polymer rigidity and electrostatic interactions between anionic side chains and hydrated metal cations. In a series of DPD simulations with increasing content of water, a classical percolation transition from a system of isolated water clusters to a 3D network of hydrophilic channels was observed. The hydrophilic subphase connectivity and water diffusion were studied by constructing digitized replicas of self-assembled morphologies and performing random walk simulations. A non-monotonic dependence of the tracer diffusivity on the water content was found. This unexpected behavior was explained by the formation of large and mostly isolated water domains detected at high water content and high equivalent polymer weight. Using MC simulations, we calculated the chemical potential of water in the hydrated polymer and constructed the water sorption isotherms, which extended to the oversaturated conditions. We determined that the maximum diffusivity and the onset of formation of large water domains corresponded to the saturation conditions at 100% humidity. The oversaturated membrane morphologies generated in the canonical ensemble DPD simulations correspond to the metastable and unstable states of Nafion membrane that are not realized in the experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Vishnyakov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey , 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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15
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Sing CE, Zwanikken JW, Olvera de la Cruz M. Electrostatic control of block copolymer morphology. NATURE MATERIALS 2014; 13:694-8. [PMID: 24907928 DOI: 10.1038/nmat4001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Energy storage is at present one of the foremost issues society faces. However, material challenges now serve as bottlenecks in technological progress. Lithium-ion batteries are the current gold standard to meet energy storage needs; however, they are limited owing to the inherent instability of liquid electrolytes. Block copolymers can self-assemble into nanostructures that simultaneously facilitate ion transport and provide mechanical stability. The ions themselves have a profound, yet previously unpredictable, effect on how these nanostructures assemble and thus the efficiency of ion transport. Here we demonstrate that varying the charge of a block copolymer is a powerful mechanism to predictably tune nanostructures. In particular, we demonstrate that highly asymmetric charge cohesion effects can induce the formation of nanostructures that are inaccessible to conventional uncharged block copolymers, including percolated phases desired for ion transport. This vastly expands the design space for block copolymer materials and is informative for the versatile design of battery electrolyte materials.
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16
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Sing CE, Zwanikken JW, Olvera de la Cruz M. Ion Correlation-Induced Phase Separation in Polyelectrolyte Blends. ACS Macro Lett 2013; 2:1042-1046. [PMID: 35581876 DOI: 10.1021/mz400511r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Inhomogeneous polyelectrolyte materials have been of both longstanding and recent interest; polymer blends exhibit technologically advantageous properties for adhesives and fuel cell membranes and serve as an ideal model system to study more complicated behaviors in polyelectrolyte materials. However, the physics governing the phase behavior of polyelectrolyte blends remains poorly understood. Traditional self-consistent field theory (SCFT) can include Coulombic interactions that arise in polyelectrolytes but can only reproduce Poisson-Boltzmann behavior or perturbations thereof due to the mean-field nature of the SCFT calculation. Recently, tools have been developed to couple SCFT with liquid state (LS) integral equation theory, which can calculate ion correlations in a quantitative fashion. This permits the articulation of ion effects in very low dielectric εr constant regimes that are relevant to polymer blends in nonaqueous conditions. We show that the inclusion of local ion correlations can give rise to marked enhancement of phase separation, contrary to theories invoking the Poisson-Boltzmann approximation, even to the extent of driving phase separation when two polymers are fully miscible (χN = 0). We provide both a demonstration of this effect as well as a conceptual explanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Sing
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jos W. Zwanikken
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Monica Olvera de la Cruz
- Department of Materials Science
and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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17
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Liu YX, Zhang HD, Tong CH, Yang YL. Microphase Separation and Phase Diagram of Concentrated Diblock Copolyelectrolyte Solutions Studied by Self-Consistent Field Theory Calculations in Two-Dimensional Space. Macromolecules 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/ma2010266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hong-Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chao-Hui Tong
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yu-Liang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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18
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Tong C, Zhu Y, Zhang H, Qiu F, Tang P, Yang Y. The Self-Consistent Field Study of the Adsorption of Flexible Polyelectrolytes onto Two Charged Nano-objects. J Phys Chem B 2011; 115:11307-17. [DOI: 10.1021/jp204904b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaohui Tong
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yuejin Zhu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Hongdong Zhang
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Feng Qiu
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ping Tang
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yuliang Yang
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200433, China
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