Issue 34, 2008
From the journal:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Comprehensive theory for star-like polymer micelles; combining classical nucleation and polymer brush theory

Joris Sprakel,*ab   Frans A. M. Leermakers,a   Martien A. Cohen Stuarta  and  Nicolaas A. M. Besselingc  

* Corresponding authors

a Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, Wageningen, The Netherlands
E-mail: joris.sprakel@wur.nl
Tel: +31 (0)317 485 595

b Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI), P.O. Box 902, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

c Section NanoStructured Materials, Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 136, Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract

A comprehensive theory is proposed that combines classical nucleation and polymer brush theory to describe star-like polymer micelles. With a minimum of adjustable parameters, the model predicts properties such as critical micelle concentrations and micellar size distributions. The validity of the present theory is evidenced in direct comparison to experiments; this revealed that the proportionality constant in the Daoud–Cotton model is of the order of unity and that the star-limit is valid down to relatively short corona chains. Furthermore, we show that the predicted saddle points in the free energy correspond to those solutions that are accessible with self-consistent field methods for self-assembly.

Graphical abstract: Comprehensive theory for star-like polymer micelles; combining classical nucleation and polymer brush theory

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B805664A
Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Apr 2008
Accepted
29 May 2008
First published
27 Jun 2008

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2008,10, 5308-5316

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Comprehensive theory for star-like polymer micelles; combining classical nucleation and polymer brush theory

J. Sprakel, F. A. M. Leermakers, M. A. Cohen Stuart and N. A. M. Besseling, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2008, 10, 5308 DOI: 10.1039/B805664A

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