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Self-assembled ordered polymer nanocomposites directed by attractive particles

J. Chem. Phys. 128, 164903 (2008); doi:10.1063/1.2907744

Published 24 April 2008

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C. D. Knorowski,1,2 J. A. Anderson,1 and A. Travesset1
1Ames Laboratory and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
2Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
We theoretically investigate general conditions under which an inorganic phase can direct the self-assembly of an ordered polymer nanocomposite. For this purpose, we consider a solution of triblock copolymers forming a hexagonal phase of micelles and investigate the effect of adding attractive particles. We show that if the triblock is functionalized at its ends by attaching groups with specific affinity for the particles, thus effectively becoming a pentablock, the particles direct the self-assembly of the system into phases where both the polymers and the particles exhibit mesoscopic order. Different lamellar and gyroid phases (both with Ia[overline 3]d and I4132 space symmetries) are presented in detail. Our results show that functionalization is a very powerful route for directing self-assembly of polymer nanocomposites. We briefly discuss the connections with recent theoretical and experimental results in diblock melts with nanoparticles as well as for problems where polymers are used to template the growth of an inorganic phase in solution. ©2008 American Institute of Physics
History: Received 8 February 2008; accepted 18 March 2008; published 24 April 2008
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?JCPSA6/128/164903/1
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Supplemental Material

KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 81.16.Dn
    Self-assembly in nanofabrication and processing
  • 81.05.Qk
    Reinforced polymers and polymer-based composites: fabrication, treatment, testing and analysis
  • YEAR: 2008

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PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
0021-9606 (print)   1089-7690 (online)
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