Surface graft configuration dependency of the morphologies of heterosurface sheet polymers

Using dissipative particle dynamics, we investigated the graft configuration-dependent scroll formation of sheet polymers and their morphologies. Two types of coarse-grained graft disorder models were considered at various displaced tether fractions. Although tether coils were identical, sheet anisotropy arose from discrepancies in graft configurations on the two opposite-side surfaces and resulted in spontaneous scroll formation. An anisotropy parameter based on the relative free volumes of tether coils was introduced and shown to be linearly related to the radius of gyration. This demonstrates that sheet anisotropy, and consequently internal cavity diameters of tubular scrolls, can be regulated by surface grafting. We also examined a coassembly of laterally grafted rod-coil amphiphiles as an alternative way to form sheet polymers with heterosurfaces. The coassembly of conformation mismatching rod-coil molecules is expected to form anisotropic bilayers, as each layer is assembled independently with different degrees of graft disorder. We believe this work provides a framework for further research regarding morphology control by surface grafts of sheet polymers.