Fundamentals and Applications of Polymer Brushes in Air

ORAL  · Invited

Abstract

While polymer brushes in liquid have been researched intensively for several decades, the properties of brushes in air have only recently caught the attention of scientists. The reason for this is that several applications of brushes in air are currently being explored, such as in electronic noses or in gas separations. In this presentation, I will provide a microscopic picture of vapor-solvation of different types of brushes. By combining molecular dynamics simulations with neutron reflectometry measurements, atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry experiments, I will show that solvent-partitioning and thereby the mechanical properties of brushes strongly depend on the polymer-solvent affinity. In addition, I will evaluate differences between brushes and free polymer films. Based on these fundamental insights, I will propose optimal design parameters for application of brushes in sensing and separations technologies in air.

*NWO and SURFsara are acknowledged for HPC resources and support (project refs 45666 and EINF-700). This work is part of the research programme ``Mechanics of Moist Brushes" with project number OCENW.KLEIN.020, which is financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Moreover, this research received funding from the Dutch Research Council (NWO) in the framework of the ENW PPP Fund for the top sectors and from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in the framework of the "PPS-Toeslagregeling" regarding the Soft Advanced Materials consortium.

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Publication: M Brió Pérez, M Cirelli, S de Beer, ACS applied polymer materials 2, 3039-3043 (2020)
GC Ritsema van Eck, LB Veldscholte, JHWH Nijkamp, S de Beer, Macromolecules 53, 8428-8437 (2020)
LA Smook, GC Ritsema van Eck, S De Beer, Macromolecules 53, 10898-10906 (2020)
LIS Mensink, S de Beer, JH Snoeijer, Soft matter 17, 1368-1375 (2021)
LA Smook, GC Ritsema van Eck, S de Beer, the Journal of Chemical Physics 155, 054904 (2021)

Presenters

  • Sissi De Beer

    • University of Twente

Authors

  • Sissi De Beer

    • University of Twente