Abstract: The conformation properties and the spatial segment distribution of AB tail-like block copolymer are studied by means of dynamic Monte Carlo simulations based on the Metropolis method. The chain is self-avoiding on the simple cubic lattice, and the flat surface is located at z=0. An attractive energy -ε(ε>0) is assumed between segment B and the flat surface when segment B is at z=1. It is found that the chain dimension, shape and spatial segment distribution are dependent on the attraction energy -ε. At small ε, the sub-chain A contracts at first, while with increasing ε farther, the sub-chain B extends along the surface. In conclusion, we find that both the mean-square radius of gyration 〈S²〉 and the mean asphericity parameter 〈A〉 drop firstly and then go up with the increase of the energy ε. The spatial segment distribution also shows that both the segments A and B shift to the surface with increasing ε. At large ε, roughly all segments B are at the first layer z=1. The dependence of the conformation properties on the proportion of segment B is also investigated. With the increase of the attractive segment B, the variation of conformation properties with the energy ε becomes much more obvious.

Key words: Tail-like chain, Block copolymer, Conformation, Monte Carlo simulation