Abstract
We examine the self-organization scenarios of star-shaped AB-block copolymers, consisting of a solvophilic A-block and a solvophobic B-block, in which f such blocks are chemically anchored on a common centre on their A-parts, leaving the B-blocks exposed on their exterior. We employ a lattice model and we perform Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations for the case f=6, varying thereby the percentage of attractive monomers as well as the concentration of stars. In agreement with previous studies on the low-functionality case f=3 [F. Lo Verso, A.Z. Panagiotopoulos, and C.N. Likos, Phys. Rev. E 79, 010401(R) (2009)], we find that when the majority of monomers in the star are attractive, macrophase separation between two fluid phases at different concentrations of stars occurs below a system-dependent critical temperature. When the majority of monomers is repulsive, novel forms of self-organization arise, which include not only well-defined spherical micelles but also the coexistence of a multiply-connected percolating cluster with smaller micelles having a well-defined size. The morphological characteristics and the sizes of the ensuing aggregates are quantitatively analysed and a critical comparison with the case f=3 and f=10 is presented.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3049-3060 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Molecular Physics |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 23-24 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 10 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Keywords
- block copolymer stars
- lattice model
- macrophase separation
- microphase structuring
- self-assembly