Search results for "MBL"
showing 10 items of 1636 documents
Unmixing of Polymer Blends Confined in Ultrathin Films: Crossover between Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Behavior
2006
The interplay between chain conformations and phase separation in binary symmetric polymer mixtures confined into thin films by "neutral" hard walls (i.e., walls that do not preferentially attract or repel one of the two components of the mixture) is studied by Monte Carlo simulations. Using the bond fluctuation model on a simple cubic lattice in the semi grand canonical ensemble, we locate the critical temperature of demixing via finite size scaling methods for a wide range of chain lengths (16/= N/= 256 effective monomers per chain) and film thicknesses (2/= D/= 19 lattice spacings). Simultaneously, we investigate the geometrical structure of the chains, showing that despite using melt de…
Structure Formation of Polymeric Building Blocks: Complex Polymer Architectures
2013
This chapter describes macromolecules with a complex structure, their defined aggregation in solution, their adsorption to surfaces, and their possible aggregation on surfaces. The term “complex structure” implies that the macromolecules show different, distinct structural elements or building blocks on a supra-atomic length scale. Key to understanding the complex structure of macromolecules, their aggregation, and adsorption to surfaces are intra- and intermolecular interactions such as van der Waals, electrostatic, π–π interactions, and hydrogen bonds.
Formation of nanorods by self-assembly of alkyl-substituted polyphenylene dendrimers on graphite
2000
Alkyl-substituted polyphenylene dendrimers with a tetrahedral or disk-like shape form self-assembled monolayers on graphite (HOPG) which show complex supramolecular structures, such as parallel rods of 6 nm diameter or two-dimensional crystals.
Magnetic molecular nanostructures: Design of magnetic molecular materials as monolayers, multilayers and thin films
2007
In this paper we summarize the importance and versatility of the molecular approach in the design and development of novel magnetic molecular materials. These materials processing, in order to obtain controlled molecular structures at the nanoscale, will also be remarked.
How ill-defined constituents produce well-defined nanoparticles: effect of polymer dispersity on the uniformity of copolymeric micelles
2019
We investigate the effect of polymer length dispersity on the properties of self-assembled micelles in solution by self-consistent field calculations. Polydispersity stabilizes micelles by raising the free energy barriers of micelle formation and dissolution. Most importantly, it significantly reduces the size fluctuations of micelles: Block copolymers of moderate polydispersity form more uniform particles than their monodisperse counterparts. We attribute this to the fact that the packing of the solvophobic monomers in the core can be optimized if the constituent polymers have different length.
A Precursor Route to Supramolecular Oligo(p-phenylene terephthalamide) Block Copolymers
2008
New soluble precursors for the step-wise synthesis of oligo(p-phenylene terephthalamide) block copolymers are described. Kevlar-like aramide oligomers up to the hexamer (six phenyl groups) were prepared in a polymer-analogous manner. Activating the carboxylic-acid-carrying oligomers as carbonyl chlorides while reversibly transforming the aromatic amides into imidoyl chlorides gave access to soluble precursors. The dimer and tetramer precursor were prepared and used in block copolymer synthesis. Single-crystal XRD confirmed the structure of the dimer precursor. Above a critical rod length, the Kevlar-like rod-coil block copolymers show strong aggregation in non-polar solvents such as chlorof…
Architecture, self-assembly and properties of well-defined hybrid polymers based on polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS)
2013
Abstract Well-defined hybrid polymers based on polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS) with a variety of architectures have been developed, including telechelic polymers, block copolymers and star-shaped polymers. The synthesis, self-assembly and properties of this kind of materials are reviewed. Well-defined POSS-containing hybrid polymers can be constructed by living polymerization techniques, such as ring-opening polymerization and living free-radical polymerization or the combination of living polymerization and coupling reactions, such as click chemistry and hydrosilylation. The self-assembly behavior of well-defined POSS-containing hybrid polymers is also described in detail. The P…
Cylindrical polymer brushes – Anisotropic building blocks, unimolecular templates and particulate nanocarriers
2016
Abstract This article presents an overview of the latest key developments and research activities in the area of cylindrical polymer brushes (CPBs), also known as ‘molecular bottlebrushes’. CPBs consist of a polymer backbone containing polymer side chains that cause the backbone to extend and adopt a worm-like conformation. The extent of backbone stretching and the aspect ratio of CPBs is determined by the length and grafting density of the side chains. The latest developments in controlled/living polymerisation techniques led to novel and more efficient ways of producing delicate polymer architectures, such as block copolymer CPBs, and resulted in a considerable expansion of the field of a…
Controlling supramolecular polymerization through multicomponent self-assembly
2016
The self-assembly into supramolecular polymers is a process driven by reversible non-covalent interactions between monomers, and gives access to materials applications incorporating mechanical, biological, optical or electronic functionalities. Compared to the achievements in precision polymer synthesis via living and controlled covalent polymerization processes, supramolecular chemists have only just learned how to developed strategies that allow similar control over polymer length, (co)monomer sequence and morphology (random, alternating or blocked ordering). This highlight article discusses the unique opportunities that arise when coassembling multicomponent supramolecular polymers, and …
SPM and TOF-SIMS investigation of the physical and chemical modification induced by tip writing of self-assembled monolayers
2003
Abstract The nanoelectrochemical modification of alkyl self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) obtained on hydrogenated silicon surfaces via radical-initiated reactions of 1-octadecene has been investigated. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) showed that the modification of the organic layer occurs by applying either positive or negative biases to the tip at a threshold of about ±5 V. When the bias absolute value was ≤6 V, the height of the monolayer was only faintly modified, whereas a consistent increase in tip/sample friction force was observed, in agreement with the formation of hydrophilic moieties at the organic surface. In addition to the increase of friction, bias absolute values larger than …