Abstract
In the present work, we consider polydispersity effects on a mixed polymer brush. Two types of polymer chains with different solvent selectivity being densely grafted together onto an impenetrable surface are forming a binary mixed polymer brush. Using a numerical quasi off-lattice self-consistent field method for heterogeneous chains we study the brush profile upon varying the strength of solvent selectivity (e.g., temperature) and the degree of polymerization of the two chain types (N1 and N2, respectively). For a monodisperse brush (N1 = N2) it is well-known, that the two types of polymers segregate into a two-layer structure, if the difference in solvent selectivity is increased. The state where the chains exposed to their good solvent forming the top layer of the brush can be frustrated for shorter chains and an inversion of the layering takes place. In the inverted state, the top layer is formed by long chains exposed to poor solvent covering the layer of shorter chains. By varying the solvent selectivity of the long chains we show that coexistence of the two states occurs,which indicates a discontinuous phase transition scenario for the switching process. We consider further the case of a very low fraction of short chain...Continue Reading
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