Schematics of LC molecules (A) in small molecular LC (SMALL, B), main-chain polymers (MCLCP, C) and side-chain polymers (SCLCP, D).

Ellipsoids are mesogens, spheres are backbone connectors in SCLCP and the springs demonstrate harmonic interactions. θ is the angle between the major axis of the two adjacent GB mesogens (u_i, u_j) for MCLCP (C), while it is the angle between the major axis of the GB mesogen (u_i) and the vector from the center of the GB mesogens to the adjacent LJ beads on backbone (r_ij) for SCLCP (D). The site-site vector S_ij connects the two adjacent GB/GB sites or GB/LJ sites placed in terminal position for MCLCP and SCLCP, respectively.