Cubic Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Based Functional Materials: Synthesis, Assembly, and Applications

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal an Asian journal, 2016-05, Vol.11 (9), p.1322-1337
• Main Authors: Ye, Qun, Zhou, Hui, Xu, Jianwei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; hybrid materials; polymers; Porous materials; POSS; self-assembly; Silicon; synthesis
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201501445

Organically modified cubic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have attracted increasing attention in the design of novel functional hybrid materials for applications such as porous materials, liquid crystals, semiconductors, high‐temperature lubricants, fuel cells, and lithium batteries. The nanosized POSS moiety can be conveniently modified on the periphery with a variety of functional groups to lead to hybrid materials with desired functions. In addition, suitable mono‐functionalized POSS derivatives can be incorporated into polymers as side chains via various synthetic strategies to offer a wide class of functional polymeric materials with tunable physical properties for targeted applications. In this Focus Review, we aim to summarize the recent developments on the chemistry and applications of POSS‐based molecules and polymers. Moreover, the properties as well as assembly behavior of the POSS‐based functional hybrid materials will be reviewed, and the relationship of the performance of the hybrid materials with the intrinsic nature of the POSS unit will be addressed. The POSS Story: Nanosized POSS have been applied for the construction of many intriguing functional hybrid materials. The recent advances of POSS chemistry and their self‐assembly behavior are discussed. Selected examples of POSS‐based hybrid materials for both academic research and industrial applications are highlighted.