The way that polymers penetrate into nanometer size pores is of fundamental interest and important for many applications. This is the case, for instance, that a biopolymer is experiencing when migrating through a narrow passage towards to its target with profound importance in cell biology. Similarly, nanopores in lab-on-a-chip devices selectively transport biomolecules for detection and separation applications. When a polymer melt gets into contact with the opening of a thin pore the capillary force is strong and drags the chains into the pore. Within POLYCONF we followed the dynamics of capillary flow of polymer melts into nanopores under conditions where the molecular dimensions (2Rg) approach the pore diameter (d). Despite recent work in understanding capillary rise in nanopores at the onset of POLYCONF - this field was still at its infancy. As model confining systems in 2d we chose self-ordered nanoporous aluminum oxide (AAO) because AAO templates contain arrays of discrete-isolated, parallel, cylindrical nanopores that are uniform in length and diameter.

Within POLYCONF we explored (i) the kinetics of polymer imbibition. In addition,n we investigated the (ii) dynamics under confinement by combining experiment, theory and simulation.

Scientifically this research proposal addressed the following questions:

  1. How do polymers penetrate in thin pores? What is the origin of the defects in capillary imbibition observed occasionally?
  2. What is the origin of the observed reversal in capillary rise with polymer molecular weight?
  3. How do polymer mixtures, polymer blends and copolymers penetrate into thin pores? What is the role of thermodynamics on imbibition, i.e., in the case of blends and copolymers how the product χN (χ is the interaction parameter and N the total degree of polymerization) enters the imbibition process?
  4. Can we make a semi-crystalline or a glassy polymer to flow within nanopores?
  5. Can we predict the local and global dynamics of polymers under 2-d confinement?
  6. Can we control processes such as adhesion, welding and melt processing by obtaining a better understanding of polymer/substrate interfaces?