Polyhedral Silsesquioxanes

Abstract

This chapter aims to highlight the selected applications of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS). A brief introduction will be given and used to highlight the use of solution–gelation chemistry for the synthesis of POSS. Furthermore, the different three-dimensional structures, including fully and incompletely condensed, random, and ladder structures, will be discussed. Subsequently, the use of the various POSS structures as fillers in polymeric nanocomposites will be examined, with a focus on polymer blends, pendant polymers, bead polymers, and POSS used as cross-linkers. Applications of polyhedral oligometallasilsesquioxanes will then be reviewed.