To　solve　the　problem　of　high　viscosity　for　fresh　concrete　especially　high-grade　concrete,　a　novel　viscosity　reducing　type　of　polycarboxylate　superplasticizer　(PCE)　was　synthesized　based　on　innovative　design　of　molecular　structure,　and　also　was　characterized　to　confirm　the　designed　molecular　structure.　The　rheological　performances　of　cement　paste　and　fresh　concrete　containing　synthesized　PCE　were　probed,　which　were　analyzed　by　means　of　surface　tension,　adsorption　behavior　and　zeta　potential.　The　plastic　viscosity　showed　a　good　correlation　with　T50　and　V-funnel　time　according　to　mesomechanics　process　model.　Moreover,　the　investigation　of　working　mechanism　interestingly　showed　that　lowering　molecular　weight　and　side　chain　length　and　introducing　hydrophobic　groups　can　achieve　improved　dispersion　capacity　and　viscosity-reduction　effectiveness.　The　aim　of　this　study　is　to　provide　a　promising　avenue　to　synthesize　PCE　with　superior　workability　and　viscosity-reducing　performance　in　fresh　concrete.　This　new　type　of　PCE　can　be　used　as　a　viscosity-reducing　agent　in　concrete　engineering.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.