Inclusion-Dissociation Transition in the Complex Formation between Molecular Nanotubes and Linear Polymer Chains in Solutions

Abstract

The inclusion-dissociation behavior in the complex formation between molecular nanotubes and linear polymer chains in solutions is theoretically investigated by using the Flory-Huggins lattice model. While, in a good solvent, the polymer chains are gradually dissociated from or included into the tubes with varying temperature, the inclusion-dissociation transition occurs sharply in a poor solvent with a hysteresis loop.