Surface diffusion dynamics of a single polymer chain in dilute solution.
Comprehensive three-dimensional dissipative particle dynamics simulations are carried out to elucidate the diffusion mechanism of a strongly adsorbed polymer chain on a solid surface in dilute solutions. We find Rouse and reptation dynamics for polymer chain diffusing on smooth and rough surfaces (with obstacles or sticking points), respectively. Combining with scaling analysis, we find that the interactions between the surface and the fluid screen the hydrodynamic interaction. The different scaling as found for a polymer chain diffusing on a fluid membrane [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1911 (1999)] and on a solid surface [Nature (London) 406, 146 (2000)] may be explained by the solid surface inhomogeneity that induces reptation.
Qian
Hu-Jun
HJ
State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China.
Chen
Li-Jun
LJ
Lu
Zhong-Yuan
ZY
Li
Ze-Sheng
ZS