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Adsorption Isotherms I

Adsorption Isotherms I

Adsorption isotherms are mathematical models that describe how molecules in a gas or liquid phase interact with surfaces. Two of the most common isotherm models are the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, which relate to Type I monolayer chemisorption. The Langmuir model is based on four key assumptions:• Adsorption cannot exceed monolayer coverage.• All surface sites are equivalent.• Molecules adsorb only at vacant sites.• There are no interactions between adsorbed...

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.

Adsorption Isotherms II

Adsorption Isotherms II

Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) introduced a theory in 1938 that modified Langmuir's assumptions to explain multilayer physical adsorption. This theory is applicable to Type II isotherms and provides a more realistic picture of adsorption processes. The BET theory assumes a uniform solid surface with localized adsorption sites, where adsorption at one site doesn't affect adsorption at neighboring sites. This theory also allows for the possibility of additional molecules being adsorbed on top...

Analyte Adsorption and Distribution

Analyte Adsorption and Distribution

In certain chromatographic separations, solutes transfer between the mobile phase and the stationary phase via sorption, which typically refers to the process of adsorption. For many chromatographic systems, the sorption process often depends on the polarity of the compounds—an expression of the overall dipole moment within the molecule. During the separation process, there is competition between the solute and solvent for adsorption to the stationary phase. Highly polar compounds and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

Polymers undergoing inhomogeneous adsorption: Order parameters for a partially directed walk model.

G K Iliev¹, S G Whittington¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|August 15, 2015

Summary

This study models polymer adsorption on surfaces, revealing how polymer and surface properties influence adsorption patterns. Detailed order parameters quantify these interactions for homopolymers and copolymers on homogeneous or striped surfaces.

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Area of Science:

Polymer Physics
Surface Science
Statistical Mechanics

Background:

Polymer adsorption is crucial in surface science and materials engineering.
Understanding adsorption behavior requires models that account for surface and polymer heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate polymer adsorption on inhomogeneous surfaces using partially directed walk models.
To analyze the impact of polymer type (homopolymer, alternating copolymer) and surface patterns (homogeneous, striped) on adsorption.
To calculate and interpret order parameters for adsorption characterization.

Main Methods:

Utilized partially directed walk models to simulate polymer chains.
Considered specific polymer types: homopolymers and strictly alternating copolymers.
Modeled surfaces as either homogeneous or striped with unit width.
Calculated detailed order parameters to quantify adsorption.

Main Results:

Demonstrated that order parameters provide significant insights into polymer adsorption mechanisms.
Showcased how varying polymer and surface properties alter adsorption behavior.
Identified distinct adsorption patterns for different polymer-surface combinations.

Conclusions:

Partially directed walk models effectively capture complex polymer adsorption phenomena.
Order parameters are key quantitative measures for understanding polymer-surface interactions.
The findings are applicable to designing surfaces for controlled polymer assembly.