Switches based on polymer brushes: Theoretical ascpects of phase transitions and nonequilibrium behavior

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Friederike Schmid
• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics ; Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: from 2012 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 218608906

Theoretical aspects of "switchable" two-component polymer brushes shall be investigated, studying generic models by analytic theory, computer simulation, and numerical selfconsistent field theory. The case shall be considered that the minory component polymer in the brush can undergo conformational transitions, e.g. between an adsorbed "pancake" state and a non-adsorbed "flower" state. Also concave cylindrical brushes that can serve as nanovalve will be studied, as well as the response to temporally periodic extemal stimulations. Comparing the different methods we shall clarify for which regions these methods are applicable and yield correct results. It is also the aim to make predictions that can be checked by experiment.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Lebanon, Russia
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Leonid Klushin; Dr. Alexey A. Polotsky; Professor Dr. Alexander M. Skvortsov