English

Conformational transitions of a semiflexible polymer in nematic solvents

Soft Condensed Matter 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

Conformations of a single semiflexible polymer chain dissolved in a low molecular weight liquid crystalline solvents (nematogens) are examined by using a mean field theory. We takes into account a stiffness and partial orientational ordering of the polymer. As a result of an anisotropic coupling between the polymer and nematogen, we predict a discontinuous (or continuous) phase transition from a condensed-rodlike conformation to a swollen-one of the polymer chain, depending on the stiffness of the polymer. We also discuss the effects of the nematic interaction between polymer segments.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0212112,
  title  = {Conformational transitions of a semiflexible polymer in nematic solvents},
  author = {Akihiko Matsuyama},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0212112},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

4 pages, 4 figures