(245a) Effects of Nanoparticle Size Polydispersity on Stability of the Double Gyroid Phase In a Tethered Nanoparticle System

Recent simulations have shown that aggregating nanospheres functionalized with polymer tethers can self-assemble to form the double gyroid phase previously seen in block copolymer systems [1,2].  Using Brownian dynamics simulations, we study the impact of nanosphere size polydispersity on both the static and dynamic properties of the double gyroid [3].  We applied the Voronoi Tessellation to determine the compactness of the nanoparticle component in the gyroid as a function of polydispersity. We show how this method can be used to quantify domain density in any microphased separated system. Related to the compactness of the gyroid, we also investigate local structure of nanoparticles as a function of polydispersity.

[1] Iacovella CR, Keys AS, Horsch MA, Glotzer SC., ?Icosahedral packing of polymer-tethered nanospheres and stabilization of the gyroid phase?, Physical Review E 75 (4), APR 2007

[2] Iacovella CR, Horsch MA,and Glotzer SC, ?Local Ordering Of Tethered Nanospheres And Nanorods in the Double Gyroid Phase?, preprint.

[3] Phillips CL, Iacovella, CR, and Glotzer SC, preprint