Molecular conformation and intermolecular interactions of linear, cyclic, and branched polymers in solution by means of synchrotron-radiation small-angle X-ray scattering

Abstract

Recent developments of synchrotron-radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements for dilute polymer solution make it possible to determine dimensional properties and intermolecular interactions quantitatively even in common organic solvents at very low temperatures, and in viscous solvents. This paper reports these characteristics for polystyrene in two solvents at a wide temperature range, molecular conformation and intermolecular interactions for thermochromic polysilanes, and conformational properties of polysaccharides in high viscous solvents including an ionic liquid. This method can also be applied to solutions of cyclic and branched polymers with relatively low molar mass, and we describe dilute solution properties of rigid cyclic polysaccharide derivatives, semiflexible and rigid star polymers, and comb-like complexes of polyelectrolytes and rigid helical polypeptides.