Issue 23, 2023

pH response of sequence-controlled polyampholyte brushes

Abstract

We use molecular simulation to investigate the pH response of sequence-controlled polyampholyte brushes (PABs) with polymer chains consisting of alternating blocks of weakly acidic and basic monomers. Changes in the ionization state, height, lateral structure, and chain conformations of PABs with pH are found to differ qualitatively from those observed for polyelectrolyte brushes. Grafting density has a relatively modest effect on PAB properties. By contrast, monomer sequence strongly affects the pH response, with the extent of the response increasing with the block size. This trend is attributed to strong electrostatic attractions between oppositely charged blocks, which lead to an increase in chain backfolding as block size increases. This behavior is consistent with that observed for polyampholytes with similar monomer sequences in solution in previous studies. Our study shows that monomer sequence can be used to tune the pH response of weak PABs to generate stimuli-responsive surfaces.

Graphical abstract: pH response of sequence-controlled polyampholyte brushes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Apr 2023
Accepted
16 May 2023
First published
31 May 2023

Soft Matter, 2023,19, 4333-4344

Author version available

pH response of sequence-controlled polyampholyte brushes

X. Yuan, H. W. Hatch, J. C. Conrad, A. B. Marciel and J. C. Palmer, Soft Matter, 2023, 19, 4333 DOI: 10.1039/D3SM00447C

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