Design and Synthesis of Functional Silsesquioxane-Based Hybrids by Hydrolytic Condensation of Bulky Triethoxysilanes

Abstract

This paper presents a short overview of recent advances in the design and synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrids using silsesquioxane-based nanoparticles having nanometer size, relatively narrow size distribution, high functionalities, and various characteristic features, mainly focusing on our recent researches related to the subject. A highlight of this paper is the water-soluble silsesquioxane-based nanoparticles, including hydroxyl-functionalized and cationic silsesquioxanes, which were synthesized via the one-step condensation of the bulky triethoxysilane precursors. The design and synthesis of R-SiO1.5/SiO2 and R-SiO1.5/TiO2 hybrids by hydrolytic cocondensation of a triethoxysilane precursor and metal alkoxides are briefly introduced. This paper also deals with recent results in stimuli-responsive hybrids based on the water-soluble silsesquioxane nanoparticles and fluorinated and amphiphilic silsesquioxane hybrids.