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Updated: Apr 24, 2026
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A trifunctional cyclohexasilane for branched poly(cyclosilane)s.
Marissa G Coschigano1, Eric A Marro1, Ruoxi Li1
1Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA. klausen@jhu.edu.
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|April 23, 2026
Summary
Branched poly(cyclosilane)s, a type of inorganic-organic polymer, show reduced volatilization during pyrolysis. This property makes them promising preceramic polymers for advanced material applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Poly(cyclosilane)s are hybrid inorganic-organic polymers featuring an all Si-Si backbone.
- These polymers contain repeating cyclohexasilane units with methyl and hydro side chains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and study branched poly(cyclosilane)s.
- To investigate the effect of branching on polymer properties, particularly during pyrolysis.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a densely functionalized cyclosilane with three-fold symmetry.
- Copolymerization studies to introduce variable amounts of branching.
- Pyrolysis experiments in an inert atmosphere to assess volatilization.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized branched poly(cyclosilane)s with controlled branching.
- Demonstrated that branching significantly reduces volatilization during pyrolysis.
- Identified a correlation between polymer structure and thermal stability.
Conclusions:
- Branched poly(cyclosilane)s exhibit enhanced thermal stability due to reduced volatilization.
- These novel polymers show significant potential as preceramic materials.
- The findings open avenues for designing tailored polymers for high-temperature applications.
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