A　novel　dispersant　with　ionic　side　chains　(ISC-PCE)　for　cement　slurries　was　elaborately　designed　and　prepared　by　a　simple　two-step　method　and　its　molecular　structure　was　proved.　The　performance　test　results　showed　that　the　cement　paste　containing　ISC-PCE　exhibited　stronger　fluidity　retention　(about　79.6　%　after　3　h),　longer　free　settling　time　(more　than　3　h)　and　fewer　flocculating　structures,　which　presented　significant　dispersing　stability.　Furthermore,　the　working　mechanism　of　ISC-PCE　to　cement　particles　was　also　probed　via　molecular　conformation,　adsorption,　complexation　ability,　zeta　potential　and　adsorbed　layer　measurements.　It　is　interesting　that　the　introduction　of　ionic　side　chains　into　conventional　dispersantpolycarboxylate　superplasticizer　(PCE)　molecules　can　achieve　gentle　and　continuous　adsorption　and　increase　the　adsorbed　layer　thickness　(increased　by　103.1　%　compared　to　conventional　PCE).　The　aim　of　this　study　is　to　offer　a　promising　pathway　to　synthesize　a　novel　PCE　endowing　outstanding　workability　stability　and　great　rheological　improvements　to　cement　pastes　by　innovative　molecular　design.　This　PCE　with　ionic　side　chains　has　enormous　promises　as　an　effective　substitute　to　conventional　PCE　with　nonionic　side　chains,　particularly　in　the　cement　paste　systems　with　strict　requirements　on　slump　retention.　(c)　2024　The　Society　of　Powder　Technology　Japan.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　and　The　Society　of　Powder　Technology　Japan　All　rights　reserved.