Work

Entropic Repulsion and Local Order in Doubly Tethered Polymers on a Surface

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The behavior of (athermal) mobile doubly tethered polymers (ring‐like in 3D) is investigated, on a 2D substrate using the bond fluctuation model. The end‐monomers can move laterally within a constrained distance range. Conformational properties of loop polymers are analyzed and specifically the ordering of the 2D system of end‐monomers. For this, the director is considered between the end‐monomers for local ordering. As tethering density increases, a transition from mushroom‐like conformations to nearly upright structures is observed, as is the case for linear grafted polymers. The effects of loop repulsion are explored, i.e., entropic repulsion, and tethering density on the order parameter and orientational correlations of the directors in 2D. Despite the lack of a global phase transition, local orientational order emerges in 2D due to loop interactions in 3D.

Source: Macromolecular Theory and Simulations

DOI: 10.1002/mats.202400077

Authors: Min Chu, Dieter W. Heermann

Institution: Heidelberg University

Language: English

Topic: Theoretical and Computational Physics

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,090

Funder: China Scholarship Council