Phase behavior of repulsive polymer-tethered colloids.
We report molecular dynamics simulations of a system of repulsive, polymer-tethered colloidal particles. We use an explicit polymer model to explore how the length and the behavior of the polymer (ideal or self-avoiding) affect the ability of the particles to organize into ordered structures when the system is compressed to moderate volume fractions. We find a variety of different phases whose origin can be explained in terms of the configurational entropy of polymers and colloids. Finally, we discuss and compare our results to those obtained for similar systems using simplified coarse-grained polymer models, and set the limits of their applicability.
Bozorgui
Behnaz
B
Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, 3000 Broadway, New York, New York 10027, USA.
Sen
Maya
M
Miller
William L
WL
Pàmies
Josep C
JC
Cacciuto
Angelo
A
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D003102:Colloids; D011108:Polymers