Biomass/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites: Advances in preparation strategies and performances

Abstract

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as an organic–inorganic hybrid at a molecular level, has excellent mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, dielectric properties and so on. In recent decades, POSS has been extensively used in modification of various polymers to prepare nanocomposites with enhanced comprehensive performances. Biomass materials such as chitosan, cellulose, silk protein, collagen fibers and gelatin have excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, which have been widely used in the fields such as biomedical, innovative environmental protection and so on. However, deficiencies including insufficient mechanical properties and rapid rate of biodegradation hampered their application. This paper briefly introduced the principal methods to synthesize POSS nanoparticles, and then focused on technologies for preparing biomass-based composites utilizing diverse functional POSSs. Finally, put forward the prospects of POSS modification technology and its future application direction. This article will have a positive guiding role for the further research and development of biomass/POSS nanocomposites.