title: Unraveling the Dynamics of Aminopolymer/Silica Composites.
abstract: The structure and dynamics of a model branched polymer was investigated through molecular dynamics simulations and neutron scattering experiments. The polymer confinement, monomer concentration, and solvent quality were varied in the simulations and detailed comparisons between the calculated structural and dynamical properties of the unconfined polymer and those confined within an adsorbing and nonadsorbing cylindrical pore, representing the silica based structural support of the composite, were made. The simulations show a direct relationship in the structure of the polymer and the nonmonotonic dynamics as a function of monomer concentration within an adsorbing cylindrical pore. However, the nonmonotonic behavior disappears for the case of the branched polymer within a nonadsorbing cylindrical pore. Overall, the simulation results are in good agreement with quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) studies of branched poly(ethylenimine) in mesoporous silica (SBA-15) of comparable size, suggesting an approach that can be a useful guide for understanding how to tune porous polymer composites for enhancing desired dynamical and structural behavior targeting carbon dioxide adsorption.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.|Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.
authors.forename: Jan-Michael Y
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
authors.forename: Miles A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sakwa-Novak
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.|Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holewinski
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rother
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.|Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.
authors.forename: Bobby G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sumpter