Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T15:43:03.423Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Monte Carlo Simulation of Amphiphile Self-Assembly during Dip Coating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Stephen E. Rankin
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Kentucky177 Anderson Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0046, U.S.A.
Anthony P. Malanoski
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico AML, 1001 University Blvd. SE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87106, U.S.A.
Frank van Swol
Affiliation:
Sandia National Laboratories, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Blvd. SE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87106, U.S.A. Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico AML, 1001 University Blvd. SE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87106, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Fascinating nanostructured porous materials have recently been synthesized by evaporation-driven coassembly of ceramic precursors and amphiphiles. To expand our understanding of this process, we examine the influence of interfaces on self-assembly process using equilibrium lattice-based Monte Carlo simulations of ternary amphiphile-solvent mixtures. The simulations are able to predict the existence of all significant lyotropic mesophases, including lamellae, hexagonal closepacked cylinders, and cubic phases such as the gyroid. In the presence of walls that attract the majority solvent, the amphiphiles are confined to a smaller region of space, and experience a higher local concentration than the bulk concentration. This can lead to early transitions between mesophases. On the other hand, when the surface repels the majority solvent, amphiphiles tend to adsorb at the walls, and the local effective concentration in solution is lower. This can delay mesophase formation. When the amphiphile concentration is high enough that mesophases form in the bulk solution, however, either type of strongly attracting wall will align the mesophase (lamellae or hexagonal channels) parallel to the walls. In contrast, neutral walls (with no preferential interaction with either component) align mesophases perpendicular to themselves, which could be an interesting route to pores aligned normal to a film.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Kresge, C.T., Leonowicz, M.E., Roth, W.J., Vartuli, J.C., Beck, J.S., Nature 359, 710 (1992).Google Scholar
[2] Ying, J.Y., Mehnert, C.P., Wong, M.S., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 38, 56 (1999).Google Scholar
[3] Brinker, C.J., Lu, Y., Sellinger, A., Fan, H., Adv. Mater. 11, 579 (1999).Google Scholar
[4] Metropolis, N., Rosenbluth, A.W., Rosenbluth, M.N., Teller, A.H., Teller, E., J. Chem. Phys. 21, 1087 (1953).Google Scholar
[5] Kawasaki, K., Phys. Rev. 145, 224 (1965).Google Scholar
[6] Larson, R.G., J. Phys. II Fr. 6, 1141 (1996).Google Scholar
[7] Ågren, P., Lindén, M., Rosenholm, J.B., Schwarzenbacher, R., Kriechbaum, M., Amenitsch, H., Laggner, P., Blanchard, J., Schüth, F., J. Phys. Chem. 103, 5943 (1999).Google Scholar
[8] Shaffer, J.S., J. Chem. Phys. 101, 4205 (1994).Google Scholar
[9] Larson, R.G., Scriven, L.E., Davis, H.T., J. Chem. Phys. 83, 2411 (1985).Google Scholar
[10] Rosenbluth, M.N., Rosenbluth, A.W., J. Chem. Phys. 23, 356 (1955).Google Scholar
[11] Larson, R.G., J. Chem. Phys. 89, 1642 (1988); 91, 2479 (1989); 96, 7904 (1992).Google Scholar
[12] Larson, R.G., Chem. Eng. Sci. 49, 2833 (1994).Google Scholar
[13] Geisinger, T., Muller, M., Binder, K., J. Chem. Phys. 111, 5241 (1999); Q.A. Wang, Q.L. Yan, P.F. Nealey, J.J. de Pablo, J. Chem. Phys. 112, 450 (2000).Google Scholar