title: Aggregation phenomena in telechelic star polymer solutions.
abstract: Telechelic star polymers are macromolecules with functionalized, mutually attractive end groups. We employ computer simulations on a lattice to investigate the phase behavior of trifunctional telechelic stars as a function of the fraction lambda of attractive terminal monomers. We find macrophase separation that disappears at some value 0.4<lambda<0.5 , at which point it is replaced by self-organization into interconnected micelles. We supplement the thermodynamics with a morphometric analysis that provides insight into the mesostructure of the resulting aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Chimie Analytique et Biophysico-chimie de l' Environnement (CABE), Université de Genève-Sciences II, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lo Verso
authors.forename: Athanassios Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
authors.forename: Christos N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Likos