B2: Many-body effects and optimized mapping schemes for systematic coarse-graining

The goal of the B2 project is two-fold. First, it provides the consortium with a powerful platform for systematic coarse-graining using a wide variety of techniques (VOTCA package, www.votca.org). The second, scientific goal is the development of many-body CG potentials using two different techniques: the first route focuses on the development and application of CG models with short-range three-body potentials, in particular the optimization of the three-body potentials with respect to measurable thermodynamic properties. The second part explores the many-body local-density-dependent potentials.

The PCPDTBT Family: Correlations between Chemical Structure, Polymorphism, and Device Performance
G. L. Schulz, F. S. U. Fischer, D. Trefz, A. Melnyk, A. Hamidi-Sakr, M. Brinkmann, D. Andrienko, S. Ludwigs
Macromolecules 50 (4), 1402-1414 (2017);
doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.6b01698

Computational materials discovery in soft matter
T. Bereau, D. Andrienko, K. Kremer
APL Mat 4, 053101 (2016);
doi:10.1063/1.4943287

↓ Show Abstract↑ Hide Abstract Soft matter embodies a wide range of materials, which all share the common characteristics of weak interaction energies determining their supramolecular structure. This complicates structure-property predictions and hampers the direct application of data-driven approaches to their modeling. We present several aspects in which these methods play a role in designing soft-matter materials: drug design as well as information-driven computer simulations, e.g., histogram reweighting. We also discuss recent examples of rational design of soft-matter materials fostered by physical insight and assisted by data-driven approaches. We foresee the combination of data-driven and physical approaches a promising strategy to move the field forward.

Comparison of systematic coarse-graining strategies for soluble conjugated polymers
Christoph Scherer and Denis Andrienko
Eur. Phys. J. Spec. Top. 225, 1441-1461, (2016);
doi:10.1140/epjst/e2016-60154-9

↓ Show Abstract↑ Hide Abstract We assess several systematic coarse-graining approaches by coarse-graining poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), a polymer showing π-stacking of the thiophene rings and lamellar ordering of the π-stacked structures. All coarse-grained force fields are ranked according to their ability of preserving the experimentally known crystalline molecular arrangement of P3HT. The coarse-grained force fields parametrized in the amorphous melt turned out to accurately reproduce the structural quantities of the melt, as well as to preserve the lamellar ordering of the P3HT oligomers in π-stacks. However, the exact crystal structure is not reproduced. The combination of Boltzmann inversion for bonded and iterative Boltzmann inversion with pressure correction for nonbonded degrees of freedom gives the best coarse-grained model.

Contact

Dr. Denis Andrienko
Max Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung
Ackermannweg 10
D-55128 Mainz
Tel: +49 6131 379147
Fax: +49 6131 379340
denis.andrienkopiJMuEVqiv_@vfUkaFMmpip-mainz.mpg.de
http://www2.mpip-mainz.mpg.de/~andrienk/

Dr. Arash Nikoubashman
Institut für Physik
Universität Mainz
Staudingerweg 9
D-55128 Mainz
Tel: +49 06131-39-20497
Fax: +49 6131-39-20496
Sekr: +49 6131 3920495
anikoubarmmS@K.zlpfU-Nuni-mainz.de
http://www.staff.uni-mainz.de/anikouba/