The phase behavior of temperature-responsive polymers
with tunable lower critical solution temperatures
(LCST) and light-responsive polymers was explored
using statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics
simulations.
The LCST in water of (ethylene oxide)/ethylene
copolymers is tailored by their
chemical composition. For the first time, the general
formalism of the
lattice-fluid with hydrogen-bonding (LFHB) theory has
been successfully applied to a water-polymer system.
This theory, modified here to account for
multiple types of hydrogen bonds, has been shown to
be effective when making theoretical
predictions as justified by comparison with
experimental results. The series of (ethylene
oxide)/ethylene copolymers were studied further with
the modified Flory-Huggins with hydrogen bonding
(FHHB) approach.
Expanding beyond temperature-responsive polymer
solutions, systems that can potentially find
applications in antifouling, drug delivery, and
surfaces with switchable tackiness, the work
subsequently focused on a light-responsive polymer
film systems that have applications in photolithography.
with tunable lower critical solution temperatures
(LCST) and light-responsive polymers was explored
using statistical mechanics and molecular dynamics
simulations.
The LCST in water of (ethylene oxide)/ethylene
copolymers is tailored by their
chemical composition. For the first time, the general
formalism of the
lattice-fluid with hydrogen-bonding (LFHB) theory has
been successfully applied to a water-polymer system.
This theory, modified here to account for
multiple types of hydrogen bonds, has been shown to
be effective when making theoretical
predictions as justified by comparison with
experimental results. The series of (ethylene
oxide)/ethylene copolymers were studied further with
the modified Flory-Huggins with hydrogen bonding
(FHHB) approach.
Expanding beyond temperature-responsive polymer
solutions, systems that can potentially find
applications in antifouling, drug delivery, and
surfaces with switchable tackiness, the work
subsequently focused on a light-responsive polymer
film systems that have applications in photolithography.