Chain Conformation of Liquid-Crystalline Bottlebrush Polymers in Solution: Insights from SAXS Measurements

During the allocated beamtime, we aim to investigate the chain conformation of bottlebrush (BB) polymers and copolymers capable of forming liquid-crystalline (LC) phases. The LC behavior of these BBs arises from hydrogen bonding within the side chains, which is expected to influence the persistence length of the polymer backbone. By employing small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we will explore how hydrogen bonding modulates the chain conformation in solution, potentially creating conditions favorable for LC phase formation. These findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of the structural properties of LC bottlebrush polymers and their self-assembly behavior.