The Sequence of a Step-Growth Copolymer Can Be Influenced by Its Own Persistence Length

J Phys Chem B. 2021 Apr 8;125(13):3426-3437. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c00873. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Abstract

Synthetic copolymer sequences remain challenging to control, and there are features of even simple one-pot, solution-based copolymerizations that are not yet fully understood. In previous simulations on step-growth copolymerizations in solution, we demonstrated that modest variations in the attractions between type A and B monomers could significantly influence copolymer sequence through an emergent aggregation and phase separation initiated by the lengthening of nascent oligomers. Here we investigate how one aspect of a copolymer's geometry-its flexibility-can modulate those effects. Our simulations show the onset of strand alignment within the polymerization-induced aggregates as chain stiffness increases and demonstrate that this alignment can influence the resulting copolymer sequences. For less flexible copolymers, with persistence lengths ≥10 monomers, modest nonbonded attractions of ∼kBT between monomers of the same type yield A and B blocks of a characteristic length and result in a polydispersity index that grows rapidly, peaks, and then diminishes as the reaction proceeds. These results demonstrate that for copolymer systems with modest variations in intermonomer attractions and physically realistic flexibilities a nascent copolymer's persistence length can influence its own sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.