We report on the simulation and characterization of densely packed tethered polymer islands. A dense and stable layer of grafted polymers (e.g. polymer brush (PB)) is a unique way to organize polymer chains at interfaces. Such an interface resolves an intrinsic problem of soft matter interfacial instability, mitigating effects such as interfacial disjunction, dewetting, and disintegration. Although the homogeneous distribution of grafting sites on the substrate is the intrinsic property of PB, lateral heterogeneity provides an opportunity and route to novel responsive surfaces and interfaces. Recent synthesis of a Coordinated Responsive Arrays of Surface Linked polymers – (polymer CORALs), which are uniformly distributed islands of densely grafted polymer chains with lateral sizes and separation distances comparable to the extended polymer chain length, has been reported. Here we characterize the structural features of simulated densely grafted polymer chains within an isolated island that make up these polymer CORALs. We find that PB characteristics are observed about a chain length within the island. At the edge of the island edge, the chain characteristics deviate substantially from typical PBs. These results can be used in the rational design of CORALs with predictable responses to external stimuli.

Nanoscale isolated island polymer brushes: A simulation study

256th National Meeting (2018)

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