Heirarchical Self Assembly: Self Organized nano-structures in a nematically ordered matrix of self assembled polymeric chains

TL;DR

This study explores the formation of diverse nano-structures within a nematically ordered polymer matrix through simulations, revealing novel morphologies like interlocked crystalline phases and self-assembled nano-particle arrangements.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid Monte Carlo simulation approach to map out phase diagrams and uncovers new nano-structures formed by nano-particles in self-assembled polymer matrices.

Findings

Rod-like nano-particle structures in nematic gaps

Percolating gel-like nanotube networks

Interlocked crystalline phases of nano-particles and polymers

Abstract

We report many different nano-structures which are formed when model nano-particles of different sizes (diameter {\sigma} n ) are allowed to aggregate in a background matrix of semi-flexible self assembled polymeric worm like micellar chains. The different nano-structures are formed by the dynamical arrest of phase-separating mixtures of micellar monomers and nano-particles. The different mor- phologies obtained are the result of an interplay of the available free volume, the elastic energy of deformation of polymers, the density (chemical potential) of the nano-particles in the polymer ma- trix and, of course, the ratio of the size of self assembling nano-particles and self avoidance diameter of polymeric chains. We have used a hybrid semi-grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation scheme to obtain the (non-equilibrium) phase diagram of the self-assembled nano-structures. We observe rod-like structures of nano-particles which get self assembled in the gaps between the nematically ordered chains as well as percolating gel-like network of conjoined nanotubes. We also find a totally unexpected interlocked crystalline phase of nano-particles and monomers, in which each crytal plane of nanoparticles is separated by planes of perfectly organized polymer chains. We identified the con- dition which leads to such interlocked crystal structure. We suggest experimental possibilities of how the results presented in this paper could be used to obtain different nano-structures in the lab.