Hydrogen Bonding Sequence Directed Coil-Globule Transition in Water Soluble Thermoresponsive Polymers
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 167801 – Published 12 October, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.167801
Abstract
The origin of the coil-globule transition for water-soluble thermoresponsive polymers frequently used in nanomaterials remains elusive. Using polypropylene oxide as an example we demonstrate by means of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations that temperature-induced increase in the sequence length of monomers that are not hydrogen bonded to water drives the coil-globule transition. Longer chains statistically exhibit longer sequences which serve as nucleation sites for hydrophobic cluster formation, facilitating chain collapse at lower temperature in agreement with experimental data.
