Macromolecules, Vol.42, No.20, 7913-7918, 2009
Role of Surface Reorganization on preferential Adsorption of Macromolecular Ensembles at the Solid/Fluid Interface
The adsorption of micelles made from precisely synthesized branched block copolymers is investigated and analyzed using a model framework that incorporates the effects of mass transport and dynamic relaxation/reorganization events occurring at the solid/fluid interface. Both processes are required to represent adequately the adsorption profile over the entire progression to pseudoequilibrium. Insight into the relative importance of the two processes, the terminus of the diffusion-dominated regime, and differences between diffusion in free Solution and in confinement is also provided. The results demonstrate commonality between adsorption of micelle-forming surfactant-like copolymers and biomimetic vesicles formed by small-molecule surfactants, both of which are systems dominated by rearrangements on the surface.