MRSEC Seminar

On Preparing Tunable Random Copolymers by “Chemical Painting” of Synthetic Homopolymers

Jan Genzer

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
North Carolina State University

Thursday, April 2, 1:00 pm

Cook Hall 2058

Heteropolymers with adjustable monomer sequences (HAMS) represent a new type of functional random copolymers that could play an important role in emerging areas pertaining to interfacial science and polymer assembly. HAMS are synthesized in a laboratory by “coloring” the segments of a collapsed homopolymer (say, A) with a functionalizing agent (say, B) and then unraveling the resultant polymer to yield a random sequence of A and B segments, which “remembers” its original collapsed conformation and hence prefers some conformations over others. In the presentation, we will provide details pertaining to the experimental formation of HAMS and studying their physico-chemical characteristics. We will provide examples of a few case studies that unravel the tailorable interfacial and bulk self-assembly character of HAMS made of poly(styrene-co-4-bromostyrene) and its derivatives. Results of computer simulation studies will also be discussed that provide molecular insight into forming HAMS.

Host: Professor Kenneth Shull, MSE