Universal shape characteristics for the mesoscopic star-shaped polymer via dissipative particle dynamics simulations

TL;DR

This study uses dissipative particle dynamics simulations to analyze the shape characteristics of star-shaped polymers across different solvent qualities, revealing universal behaviors and detailed insights into their asphericity.

Contribution

The paper introduces a mesoscopic simulation approach to systematically study shape characteristics of various star polymers in different solvent conditions, highlighting universal shape features.

Findings

Asphericity increases in θ-solvent regime.

Gyration radius varies with solvent quality.

Universal shape characteristics observed across polymers.

Abstract

In this paper we study the shape characteristics of star-like polymers in various solvent quality using a mesoscopic level of modeling. The dissipative particle dynamics simulations are performed for the homogeneous and four different heterogeneous star polymers with the same molecular weight. We analyse the gyration radius and asphericity at the bad, good and $\theta$-solvent regimes. Detailed explanation based on interplay between enthalpic and entropic contributions to the free energy and analyses on of the asphericity of individual branches are provided to explain the increase of the apsphericity in $\theta$-solvent regime.