Insights into Stimuli-Responsive Polymers

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.

Autorentext

Born in Dubna, Russia. Receivededucation in physics and mathematics from Moscow Institute ofPhysics &Technology and later completed his doctoral dissertation at PennState University. Alex's research interests include variousaspects ofphase behavior of complex stimuli-responsive molecular systems.

Klappentext

The phase behavior of temperature-responsive polymerswith tunable lower critical solution temperatures(LCST) and light-responsive polymers was exploredusing statistical mechanics and molecular dynamicssimulations. The LCST in water of (ethylene oxide)/ethylenecopolymers is tailored by theirchemical composition. For the first time, the generalformalism of thelattice-fluid with hydrogen-bonding (LFHB) theory hasbeen successfully applied to a water-polymer system.This theory, modified here to account formultiple types of hydrogen bonds, has been shown tobe effective when making theoreticalpredictions as justified by comparison withexperimental results. The series of (ethyleneoxide)/ethylene copolymers were studied further withthe modified Flory-Huggins with hydrogen bonding(FHHB) approach. Expanding beyond temperature-responsive polymersolutions, systems that can potentially findapplications in antifouling, drug delivery, andsurfaces with switchable tackiness, the worksubsequently focused on a light-responsive polymerfilm systems that have applications in photolithography.