Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

4.1K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
4.1K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

41.5K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
41.5K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

23.4K
23.4K
Vapor Pressure02:34

Vapor Pressure

41.2K
When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules move randomly about, they will occasionally collide with the surface of the condensed phase, and in some cases, these collisions will result in the molecules re-entering the condensed phase. The change from the gas phase to the liquid is called condensation. When the rate of condensation becomes equal to the rate of vaporization, neither the amount of the liquid nor the amount of the vapor...
41.2K
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

4.9K
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.
4.9K
Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation02:39

Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation

21.6K
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Fracture of polymer-like networks with hybrid bond strengths.

Journal of the mechanics and physics of solids·2026
Same author

Elongational flow response of compressible polymer melts.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Reverse segregation and self-organization in inclined chute flows of bidisperse granular mixtures.

Physical review. E·2026
Same author

Shape elasticity in colloidal bent-core liquid crystals.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

From Coils to Rods: Structure and Dynamics of Polyelectrolytes in Water.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same author

Shear response of polyelectrolytes in water.

Physical review. E·2026
Same journal

Topology-Preserving Elastic Deformation Augmentation Enables Robust Defect Detection in Data-Scarce Industrial Imagery.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same journal

Flexible Porous Organic Polymers with α,β-Enone-Linkage via AlCl<sub>3</sub>-Catalyzed Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Polymerization for Pd Recovery.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same journal

Light-Controlled Topology Switching Enables Continuous Modulation of Thermally Induced Phase Behavior in Polymer Solutions.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same journal

Correction to "Light-Induced Transformation from Covalent to Supramolecular Polymer Networks".

ACS macro letters·2026
Same journal

Mechanically Gated Generation of a 3<i>H</i>-Anthra[2,1-<i>b</i>]pyran Photoswitch Enabling Multicolor Switching.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same journal

CRISPR-Based Programmable RNA-Responsive Protein Materials.

ACS macro letters·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Reactive Vapor Deposition of Conjugated Polymer Films on Arbitrary Substrates
07:32

Reactive Vapor Deposition of Conjugated Polymer Films on Arbitrary Substrates

Published on: January 17, 2018

36.6K

Polymers at Liquid/Vapor Interface.

Brandon L Peters1, Darin Q Pike1, Michael Rubinstein2

  • 1Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, United States.

ACS Macro Letters
|December 12, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Molecular dynamics simulations reveal asymmetric polymer density profiles at liquid/vapor interfaces for weakly immiscible polymers. Increasing surface coverage reduces chain dimensions and mobility, approaching homopolymer melt behavior.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

8.5K
Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
08:06

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

14.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Reactive Vapor Deposition of Conjugated Polymer Films on Arbitrary Substrates
07:32

Reactive Vapor Deposition of Conjugated Polymer Films on Arbitrary Substrates

Published on: January 17, 2018

36.6K
Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

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

Published on: September 26, 2016

8.5K
Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
08:06

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

14.6K

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Physics
  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • Polymers at interfaces influence material properties.
  • Understanding polymer behavior at liquid/vapor interfaces is crucial for various applications.
  • Previous studies often focused on polymers in good solvents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the density profiles of polymers confined to a liquid/vapor interface.
  • To characterize the effect of weak immiscibility between polymers and solvents.
  • To examine how surface coverage impacts polymer conformation and dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed.
  • Focus on polymers exhibiting weak immiscibility with the surrounding solvent.
  • Analysis of density profiles perpendicular to the interface.

Main Results:

  • A strong asymmetry in polymer density profiles was observed.
  • Vapor-side density decays as a Gaussian; liquid-side density decays exponentially.
  • This contrasts with power-law decay seen for polymers in good solvents.
  • Increased surface coverage led to decreased end-to-end distance and chain mobility.

Conclusions:

  • Weakly immiscible polymers exhibit distinct interfacial behavior.
  • The observed asymmetric density profiles are a key characteristic.
  • Surface coverage significantly influences polymer chain structure and dynamics at the interface.