Ordered Adsorption of Polyethylene on Hydroxylated beta-Cristobalite(100) Surface

The adsorption of polyethylene (PE) chain on the hydroxylated beta-cristobalite (100) surface was studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The regular pattern of the surface acts as a template to guide the PE chain folding on the surface long [110] direction. There are two different kinds of configurations for PE chain adsorbed onto such a patterned surface depending on whether the environment is in vacuum or in solution, respectively, However, they both posses two-dimensional adsorption configurations. The adsorption of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) on the same surface is also simulated for comparison. The results of this polar polymer being adsorbed onto the polar surface are different from the former results.