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Soft, coarse-grained modelling of self-assembling polymer ink

ORAL

Abstract

We model the experimental technique of printing nano-meter-sized polymer droplets onto a prefabricated substrate to direct and validate the efforts of our experimental collaborators. We model the interaction parameter between the polymer blocks and the surface interaction. As a result, we are able to control the microphase-separated morphology inside the droplet. In contrast to a bulk system, we have here the interaction between with the surface and the soft, spatial constraints of the droplet.

We choose a Many-body DPD representation for the polymer simulation to enable rapid access to the large parameter space of this system. The many-body aspect of this model allows the modeling of an explicit liquid-vapor interface, correct hydrodynamics, and tunable surface interactions.

Understanding this project helps applications where this technique can be used to fabricate nano-reactors with a high degree of controllability.

Presenters

  • Ludwig Schneider

    Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, PME, University of Chicago

Authors

  • Ludwig Schneider

    Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, PME, University of Chicago

  • Juan De Pablo

    University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago