Customizing wormlike mesoscale structures via self-assembly of amphiphilic star polymers

Christian Koch, Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos, Federica Lo Verso, Christos N. Likos

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

We examine the phase behavior of end-functionalized diblock copolymer stars by means of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations. We focus on solutions of diblock copolymer stars with a solvophobic outer block shorter than the solvophilic inner block, which are expected to nucleate microphase aggregates. By tuning the temperature and rigidity of the molecules, we target specific mesoscale structures, which can act as powerful rheology modifiers. In particular, we control the hierarchical self-assembly of single micelles in a "pearl-necklace'' fashion, which eventually merge into elongated, wormlike supermicelles.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3530-3535
Number of pages6
JournalSoft Matter
Volume11
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 103036 Theoretical physics
  • 103023 Polymer physics
  • 103029 Statistical physics

Keywords

  • TRANSIENT NETWORK
  • SURFACTANT MICELLES
  • TELECHELIC POLYMERS
  • LIGHT-SCATTERING
  • PHASE-BEHAVIOR
  • DRAG REDUCTION
  • DYNAMICS
  • RHEOLOGY
  • SYSTEMS
  • MICROEMULSION

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