title: Grafted nanoparticles as soft patchy colloids: self-assembly versus phase separation.
abstract: We investigate the thermodynamic behavior of a model polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) system on a fine lattice, using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, to compare and contrast the validity of two different models for GNPs: "nanoparticle amphiphiles" versus "patchy particles." In the former model, continuous self-assembly processes are expected to dominate the system, whereas the latter are characterized by first-order phase separation into novel equilibrium phases such as "empty liquids." We find that, in general, considering GNPs as amphiphiles within the framework of a recent mean-field theory [Pryamtisyn et al., J. Chem. Phys. 131, 221102 (2009)] provides a qualitatively accurate description of the thermodynamics of GNP systems, revealing either first-order phase separation into two isotropic phases or continuous self-assembly. Our model GNPs display no signs of empty liquid formation, suggesting that these nanoparticles do not provide a route to such phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mahynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Athanassios Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Panagiotopoulos
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D011108:Polymers