Exact results and the effect of monomer–monomer bond type for a grafted ideal chain

We determine the equilibrium chain end probability density PN(x) for a one-dimensional ideal chain of N monomers grafted to a planar surface. This distribution is also the distribution function of a three-dimensional chain where the tangential dimensions y, z are integrated out of the distribution. With a small modification of the analysis of Erukhimovich, Johner, and Joanny for free chains near a wall, we are able to obtain exact results for PN(x) for any monomer number N though with the restriction that the monomer–monomer bonds lengths are exponentially distributed. In particular, we obtain exact values for PN and its derivative d PN/ d x at the surface for any N and the full profile PN(x) for selected values of N. To determine the effect of the bond distribution, we find PN(x) numerically for Gaussian and uniformly distributed one-dimensional bonds and compare with the exact results for exponential bonds. We suggest several ways to quantify the effect of bond type based both on PN(x) near the surface and in the scaling region x∼Na. We then extract the large N limit of PN(x) and show that it is similar to the chain end probability for continuous chains but shifted toward smaller x. We show the amount of shift is a measure of the magnitude of the correction to the continuous chain PN(x). We derive the value of the shift for exponential bonds and show that the value is different for other bond types. We argue the shift can be interpreted as an effective surface behind the actual surface.

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-022-00239-6

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Work Title Exact results and the effect of monomer–monomer bond type for a grafted ideal chain
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Chuck Yeung
  2. Barry A. Friedman
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
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  1. European Physical Journal E
Publication Date October 1, 2022
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  1. https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-022-00239-6
Deposited February 17, 2023

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