Modeling of Polymer Structure and Conformations in Polymer Nanocomposites from Atomistic to Mesoscale: A Review

Miscibility and Nanoparticle Diffusion in Ionic Nanocomposites

We investigate the effect of various spherical nanoparticles in a polymer matrix on dispersion, chain dimensions and entanglements for ionic nanocomposites at dilute and high nanoparticle loading by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The nanoparticle dispersion can be achieved in oligomer matrices due to the presence of electrostatic interactions. We show that the overall configuration of ionic oligomer chains, as characterized by their radii of gyration, can be perturbed at dilute nanoparticle loading by the presence of charged nanoparticles. In addition, the nanoparticle's diffusivity is reduced due to the electrostatic interactions, in comparison to conventional nanocomposites where the electrostatic interaction is absent. The charged nanoparticles are found to move by a hopping mechanism.

On the calculation of the potential of mean force between atomistic nanoparticles

We study the potential of mean force (PMF) between atomistic silica and gold nanoparticles in the vacuum by using molecular dynamics simulations. Such an investigation is devised in order to fully characterize the effective interactions between atomistic nanoparticles, a crucial step to describe the PMF in high-density coarse-grained polymer nanocomposites. In our study, we first investigate the behavior of silica nanoparticles, considering cases corresponding to different particle sizes and assessing results against an analytic theory developed by Hamaker for a system of Lennard-Jones interacting particles (H.C. Hamaker, Physica A 4, 1058 (1937)). Once validated the procedure, we calculate effective interactions between gold nanoparticles, which are considered both bare and coated with polyethylene chains, in order to investigate the effects of the grafting density [Formula: see text] on the PMF. Upon performing atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, it turns out that silica nanoparticles experience similar interactions regardless of the particle size, the most remarkable difference being a peak in the PMF due to surface interactions, clearly apparent for the larger size. As for bare gold nanoparticles, they are slightly interacting, the strength of the effective force increasing for the coated cases. The profile of the resulting PMF resembles a Lennard-Jones potential for intermediate [Formula: see text], becoming progressively more repulsive for high [Formula: see text] and low interparticle separations.

Translational and rotational dynamics of an ultra-thin nanorod probe particle in linear polymer melts

Translational and rotational dynamics of a single rigid ultra-thin nanorod probe particle in linear polymer melts are investigated using coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations.

Mechanisms of reinforcement in polymer nanocomposites

Qualitatively different stress–strain responses of polymer nanocomposites are shown to result from the dynamical evolution of three principal molecular structural motifs in the polymer–filler network.

Assessing numerical methods for molecular and particle simulation

We discuss the design of state-of-the-art numerical methods for molecular dynamics, focusing on the demands of soft matter simulation, where the purposes include sampling and dynamics calculations both in and out of equilibrium. We discuss the characteristics of different algorithms, including their essential conservation properties, the convergence of averages, and the accuracy of numerical discretizations. Formulations of the equations of motion which are suited to both equilibrium and nonequilibrium simulation include Langevin dynamics, dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), and the more recently proposed "pairwise adaptive Langevin" (PAdL) method, which, like DPD but unlike Langevin dynamics, conserves momentum and better matches the relaxation rate of orientational degrees of freedom. PAdL is easy to code and suitable for a variety of problems in nonequilibrium soft matter modeling; our simulations of polymer melts indicate that this method can also provide dramatic improvements in computational efficiency. Moreover we show that PAdL gives excellent control of the relaxation rate to equilibrium. In the nonequilibrium setting, we further demonstrate that while PAdL allows the recovery of accurate shear viscosities at higher shear rates than are possible using the DPD method at identical timestep, it also outperforms Langevin dynamics in terms of stability and accuracy at higher shear rates.

Multiscale Molecular Simulations of Polymer-Matrix Nanocomposites: or What Molecular Simulations Have Taught us About the Fascinating Nanoworld

Following the substantial progress in molecular simulations of polymer-matrix nanocomposites, now is the time to reconsider this topic from a critical point of view. A comprehensive survey is reported herein providing an overview of classical molecular simulations, reviewing their major achievements in modeling polymer matrix nanocomposites, and identifying several open challenges. Molecular simulations at multiple length and time scales, working hand-in-hand with sensitive experiments, have enhanced our understanding of how nanofillers alter the structure, dynamics, thermodynamics, rheology and mechanical properties of the surrounding polymer matrices.

Molecular insights into the effect of graphene packing on mechanical behaviors of graphene reinforced cis-1,4-polybutadiene polymer nanocomposites

We adopt molecular dynamics simulation to study the graphene packing patterns on chain structure, dynamics, uniaxial tension and visco-elastic behaviors.

Tailoring the dispersion of nanoparticles and the mechanical behavior of polymer nanocomposites by designing the chain architecture

The dispersion of nanoparticles with different polymer–nanoparticle interaction strengths and chain architectures.

Multiscale simulations of PS-SiO2 nanocomposites: from melt to glassy state

The interaction energetics, molecular packing, entanglement network properties, segmental dynamics, and elastic constants of atactic polystyrene-amorphous silica nanocomposites in the molten and the glassy state are studied via molecular simulations using two interconnected levels of representation: (a) a coarse-grained one, wherein each polystyrene repeat unit is mapped onto a single "superatom" and the silica nanoparticle is viewed as a solid sphere. Equilibration at all length scales at this level is achieved via connectivity-altering Monte Carlo simulations. (b) A united-atom (UA) level, wherein the polymer chains are represented in terms of a united-atom forcefield and the silica nanoparticle is represented in terms of a simplified, fully atomistic model. Initial configurations for UA molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are obtained by reverse mapping well-equilibrated coarse-grained configurations. By analysing microcanonical UA MD trajectories, the polymer density profile is studied and the polymer is found to exhibit layering in the vicinity of the nanoparticle surface. An estimate of the enthalpy of mixing between polymer and nanoparticles, derived from the UA simulations, compares favourably against available experimental values. The dynamical behaviour of polystyrene (in neat and filled melt systems) is characterized in terms of bond orientation and dihedral angle time autocorrelation functions. At low concentration in the molten polymer matrix, silica nanoparticles are found to cause a slight deceleration of the segmental dynamics close to their surface compared to the bulk polymer. Well-equilibrated coarse-grained long-chain configurations are reduced to entanglement networks via topological analysis with the CReTA algorithm, yielding a slightly lower density of entanglements in the filled than in the neat systems. UA melt configurations are glassified by MD cooling. The elastic moduli of the resulting glassy nanocomposites are computed through an analysis of strain fluctuations in the undeformed state and through explicit mechanical deformation by MD, showing a stiffening of the polymer in the presence of nanoparticles. UA simulation results for the elastic constants are compared to continuum micromechanical calculations invoked in homogenization models of the overall mechanical behaviour of heterogeneous materials. They can be interpreted in terms of the presence of an "interphase" of approximate thickness 2 nm around the nanoparticles, with elastic constants intermediate between those of the filler and the matrix.

Tuning the structure and mechanical property of polymer nanocomposites by employing anisotropic nanoparticles as netpoints

Introducing carbon nanotubes or graphene sheets into polymer matrices has received lots of scientific and technological attention. For the first time, we report a new kind of polymer nanocomposite (PNC) by means of employing anisotropic nanoparticles (NPs) as netpoints (referred to as an end-linked system), namely with NPs acting as netpoints to chemically connect the dual end-groups of each polymer chain to form a network. By taking advantage of this strategy, the anisotropic NPs can be uniformly distributed in the polymer matrix, with the NPs being separated via the connected polymer chains. And the separation distance between NPs, the stress-strain behavior and the dynamic hysteresis loss (HL) can be manipulated by varying the temperature and the polymer chain flexibility. Meanwhile, the physically mixed system is investigated by changing the interaction strength between polymer and NPs, and the temperature. It is emphasized that compared to the physically mixed system, the end-linked system which employs carbon nanotubes or graphene as netpoints possesses good thermal stability because of its thermodynamically stable morphology, exhibiting both excellent static and dynamic mechanical properties. These results help us to design and fabricate high performance and multi-functional PNCs filled with carbon nanotubes or graphene, facilitating the potentially large industrial application of these nanomaterials.

Dilute Semiflexible Polymers with Attraction: Collapse, Folding and Aggregation

We review the current state on the thermodynamic behavior and structural phases of self- and mutually-attractive dilute semiflexible polymers that undergo temperature-driven transitions. In extreme dilution, polymers may be considered isolated, and this single polymer undergoes a collapse or folding transition depending on the internal structure. This may go as far as to stable knot phases. Adding polymers results in aggregation, where structural motifs again depend on the internal structure. We discuss in detail the effect of semiflexibility on the collapse and aggregation transition and provide perspectives for interesting future investigations.

Self-Assembly of Colloidal Nanocrystals: From Intricate Structures to Functional Materials

Chemical methods developed over the past two decades enable preparation of colloidal nanocrystals with uniform size and shape. These Brownian objects readily order into superlattices. Recently, the range of accessible inorganic cores and tunable surface chemistries dramatically increased, expanding the set of nanocrystal arrangements experimentally attainable. In this review, we discuss efforts to create next-generation materials via bottom-up organization of nanocrystals with preprogrammed functionality and self-assembly instructions. This process is often driven by both interparticle interactions and the influence of the assembly environment. The introduction provides the reader with a practical overview of nanocrystal synthesis, self-assembly, and superlattice characterization. We then summarize the theory of nanocrystal interactions and examine fundamental principles governing nanocrystal self-assembly from hard and soft particle perspectives borrowed from the comparatively established fields of micrometer colloids and block copolymer assembly. We outline the extensive catalog of superlattices prepared to date using hydrocarbon-capped nanocrystals with spherical, polyhedral, rod, plate, and branched inorganic core shapes, as well as those obtained by mixing combinations thereof. We also provide an overview of structural defects in nanocrystal superlattices. We then explore the unique possibilities offered by leveraging nontraditional surface chemistries and assembly environments to control superlattice structure and produce nonbulk assemblies. We end with a discussion of the unique optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties of ordered nanocrystal superlattices, and the coming advances required to make use of this new class of solids.

Filler reinforcement in cross-linked elastomer nanocomposites: insights from fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulation

Using a fully atomistic model, we perform large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of sulfur-cured polybutadiene (PB) and nanosilica-filled PB composites. A well-integrated network without sol fraction is built dynamically by cross-linking the coarse-grained precursor chains in the presence of embedded silica nanoparticles. Initial configurations for subsequent atomistic simulations are obtained by reverse mapping of the well-equilibrated coarse-grained systems. Based on the concept of "maximally inflated knot" introduced by Grosberg et al., we show that the networks simulated in this study behave as mechanically isotropic systems. Analysis of the network topology in terms of graph theory reveals that mechanically inactive tree-like structures are the dominant structural components of the weakly cross-linked elastomer, while cycles are mainly responsible for the transmission of mechanical forces through the network. We demonstrate that quantities such as the system density, thermal expansion coefficient, glass transition temperature and initial Young's modulus can be predicted in qualitative and sometimes even in quantitative agreement with experiments. The nano-filled system demonstrates a notable increase in the glass transition temperature and an approximately two-fold increase in the nearly equilibrium value of elastic modulus relative to the unfilled elastomer even at relatively small amounts of filler particles. We also examine the structural rearrangement of the nanocomposite subjected to tensile deformation. Under high strain-rate loading, the formation of structural defects (microcavities) within the polymer bulk is observed. The nucleation and growth of cavities in the post-yielding strain hardening regime mainly take place at the elastomer/nanoparticle interfaces. As a result, the cavities are concentrated just near the embedded nanoparticles. Therefore, while the silica nanofiller increases the elastic modulus of the elastomer, it also creates a more defective structure of higher energy in comparison with the unfilled network.

Entanglements in polymer nanocomposites containing spherical nanoparticles

We investigate the polymer packing around nanoparticles and polymer/nanoparticle topological constraints (entanglements) in nanocomposites containing spherical nanoparticles in comparison to pure polymer melts using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The polymer-nanoparticle attraction leads to good dispersion of nanoparticles. We observe an increase in the number of topological constraints (decrease of total entanglement length Ne with nanoparticle loading in the polymer matrix) in nanocomposites due to nanoparticles, as evidenced by larger contour lengths of the primitive paths. An increase of the nanoparticle radius reduces the polymer-particle entanglements. These studies demonstrate that the interaction between polymers and nanoparticles does not affect the total entanglement length because in nanocomposites with small nanoparticles, the polymer-nanoparticles topological constraints dominate.

Effects of pore size and surface charge on Na ion storage in carbon nanopores

Na ion batteries (NIBs) are considered as a promising low cost and sustainable energy storage technology.