Core-shell structures in single flexible-semiflexible block copolymers: Finding the free energy minimum for the folding transition

摘要

We investigate the folding transition of a single diblock copolymerconsisting of a semiflexible and a flexible block. We obtain a {\itSaturn-shaped} core-shell conformation in the folded state, in which theflexible block forms a core and the semiflexible block wraps around it. Wedemonstrate two distinctive features of the core-shell structures: (i) Thekinetics of the folding transition in the copolymer are significantly moreefficient than those of a semiflexible homopolymer. (ii) The core-shellstructure does not depend on the transition pathway.