Interfacial engineering using heteropolymers with adjustable monomer sequences (HAMS)

Heteropolymers with adjustable monomer sequences (HAMS) represent a new type of functional random copolymers that could play an important role in emerging areas pertaining to interfacial science and polymer assembly. Due to their disordered but tailorable co-monomer sequence distribution HAMS are capable of adsorbing selectively at interfaces and recognizing patterns on chemical targets (i.e., chemically patterned substrates). HAMS are synthesized in a laboratory by `coloring' the segments of a collapsed homopolymer, A, with a functionalizing agent, B, and then unraveling the resultant polymer to yield a random sequence of A and B blocks, which `remembers' its original collapsed conformation and hence prefers some conformations over others. In the presentation, we will provide details pertaining to the experimental formation of HAMS and studying their physico-chemical characteristics. We will also provide examples of a few case studies that unravel the tailorable interfacial and self-assembly character of HAMS made of poly(styrene-co-4-bromostyrene) and its derivatives. In addition, we present results of computer simulation studies providing molecular insight into forming HAMS.