Layering transitions for adsorbing polymers in poor solvents

TL;DR

This paper investigates layering transitions in model polymers near surfaces in poor solvents, revealing a hierarchy of phases and first-order transitions through computational simulations and scaling theory.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of layering phases in polymers, breaking down the Surface Attached Globule phase into multiple layers, supported by new scaling theory.

Findings

Identification of multiple stable layering phases

First-order transitions between layering phases

Validation of scaling theory for these phases

Abstract

An infinite hierarchy of layering transitions exists for model polymers in solution under poor solvent or low temperatures and near an attractive surface. A flat histogram stochastic growth algorithm known as FlatPERM has been used on a self- and surface interacting self-avoiding walk model for lengths up to 256. The associated phases exist as stable equilibria for large though not infinite length polymers and break the conjectured Surface Attached Globule phase into a series of phases where a polymer exists in specified layer close to a surface. We provide a scaling theory for these phases and the first-order transitions between them.