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Surface Patterns of a Tetrahedral Polyelectrolyte Brush Induced by Grafting Density and Charge Fraction

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Abstract

A tetrahedral polyelectrolyte brush in the presence of trivalent counterions is researched under the condition of good solution by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Grafting density and charge fraction are varied to generate a series of surface patterns. Lateral microphase separation happens and various interesting pinned patches appear at appropriate charge fraction and grafting density. Through a careful analysis on the brush thickness, the pair correlation functions, the distributions of net charge, and the four states of trivalent counterions in the brush, we find that the ordered surface patterns and special properties are induced by the pure electrostatic correlation effect of trivalent ions even in the good solvent. Furthermore, the dependences of electrostatic correlation on the charge fraction of tethered chains are evaluated for fixed grafting density. Also, our results can serve as a guide for precise control over the stimuli-responsive materials rational and self-assembly of nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21474005 and 21674005) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 3122018L007) and Quality Course Construction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Science, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, 300300, China

    Hong-Ge Tan, Gang Xia, Li-Xiang Liu, Xiao-Hui Niu & Qing-Hai Hao

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  1. Hong-Ge Tan
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  2. Gang Xia
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Correspondence to Hong-Ge Tan.

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Tan, HG., Xia, G., Liu, LX. et al. Surface Patterns of a Tetrahedral Polyelectrolyte Brush Induced by Grafting Density and Charge Fraction. Chin J Polym Sci 38, 394–402 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2351-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2351-8

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