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Polymers
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Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications
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Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4705

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hyeon Mo Cho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
University College, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
Interests: silicon chemistry; semiconductor manufacturing material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Some scientists and engineers refer to the current era as the "Silicon Age”. This suggests that silicon-based polymers have emerged as essential materials in modern science and engineering, characterized by their unique properties and versatility. The bond enthalpy of Si–O is much larger than that of the C–O bond, rendering the thermal stability of Si-O polymers, and its larger bond angle and longer bond length provide bond flexibility. In addition, uncondensed OH groups (silanol) of siloxane polymers facilitate effective bonding with other materials, such as organic compounds, metal oxides, and metals. Moreover, the Si-Si bond exhibits very different characteristics from the C-C bond in terms of the HOMO-LUMO gap and bond strength.

This Special Issue explores the synthesis, properties, and various applications of silicon-based polymers. Due to their unique properties, silicon-based polymers demonstrate excellent performance on their own and also offer an interesting alternative to traditional organic polymers. Investigations on their applications in sensors, semiconductors, displays, photoactive materials, filters, anodes in lithium-ion batteries, drug delivery systems, catalysts, and biocompatible materials have been conducted. By understanding the intricacies of silicon-based polymer synthesis and their practical applications, we can unlock new potential for advancements in chemistry and materials science, paving the way for cutting-edge innovations in various sectors.

This Special Issue will cover, but will not be limited to, the following aspects of silicon-based polymer chemistry and technology: novel preparation methods for polymers containing Si-O, Si-C, and/or Si-C bonds; the mechanism of the formation of silicon-based polymers; novel chemical and physical properties of silicon-based polymers; and applications of silicon-based polymers.

Prof. Dr. Hyeon Mo Cho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • silicon-based polymers
  • polysiloxane
  • polysilane
  • polycarbosilane
  • synthetic method

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2095 KB  
Article
Molecular Mechanisms of Silicone Network Formation: Bridging Scales from Curing Reactions to Percolation and Entanglement Analyses
by Pascal Puhlmann and Dirk Zahn
Polymers 2025, 17(19), 2619; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17192619 - 27 Sep 2025
Viewed by 521
Abstract
The curing of silicone networks from dimethylsilanediol and methylsilanetriol chainbuilder–crosslinker precursor mixtures is investigated from combined quantum/molecular mechanics simulations. Upon screening different crosslinker content from 5 to 15%, we provide a series of atomic-resolution bulk models all featuring 98–99% curing degree, albeit at [...] Read more.
The curing of silicone networks from dimethylsilanediol and methylsilanetriol chainbuilder–crosslinker precursor mixtures is investigated from combined quantum/molecular mechanics simulations. Upon screening different crosslinker content from 5 to 15%, we provide a series of atomic-resolution bulk models all featuring 98–99% curing degree, albeit at rather different arrangement of the chains and nodes, respectively. To elucidate the nm scale alignment of the polymer networks, we bridge scales from atomic simulation cells to graph theory and demonstrate the analyses of 3-dimensional percolation of -O-Si-O- bonds, polydimethylsiloxane branching characteristics and the interpenetration of loops. Our findings are discussed in the context of the available experimental data to relate heat of formation, curing degree and elastic properties to the molecular scale structural details—thus promoting the in-depth understanding of silicone resins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications)
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20 pages, 4782 KB  
Article
Porous Organosilica Films: Is It Possible to Enhance Hydrophobicity While Maintaining Elastic Stiffness?
by Alexey S. Vishnevskiy, Dmitry A. Vorotyntsev, Dmitry S. Seregin, Konstantin A. Vorotilov and Alexander S. Sigov
Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172433 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 591
Abstract
Organosilica films, composed of a silicon oxide network with terminal methyl groups, are widely utilized in various applications, including microelectronics. Many of these applications require high hydrophobicity and good mechanical properties, which pose a significant challenge because the Si–CH3 groups disrupt the [...] Read more.
Organosilica films, composed of a silicon oxide network with terminal methyl groups, are widely utilized in various applications, including microelectronics. Many of these applications require high hydrophobicity and good mechanical properties, which pose a significant challenge because the Si–CH3 groups disrupt the Si–O–Si network. This issue becomes particularly pronounced in porous films. Here, we investigate whether material properties can be tuned by simply altering the spatial arrangement of methyl groups. To achieve this, we prepared copolymer films with one or two methyl groups bonded to a silicon atom, while maintaining a constant total amount of methyl groups. The films were deposited using a sol–gel technique combined with template self-assembly. The precursor content was varied to compare films with different proportions of Si–CH3 and Si(–CH3)2. Film characterization included FTIR, ellipsometric porosimetry, AFM, and WCA measurements and dielectric constant evaluations. Our findings indicate that precursors containing dimethyl groups enhance the connectivity of the Si–O–Si network, resulting in a higher Young’s modulus and smaller pore size compared to films with an equivalent amount of methyl groups. However, the lower thermal stability of dimethyl bonds limits the thermal budget of these films. Thus, the spatial arrangement of organic groups within the polymer structure can be employed to tune material properties. These results expand the understanding of organic–inorganic hybrid materials and offer novel approaches for their applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications)
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18 pages, 4073 KB  
Article
Development of Biopolymer Polylactic Acid–Cellulose Acetate–Silicon Dioxide Nanocomposite Membranes for Multifunctional Protective Textiles
by Irfan Farooq, Abdulhamid Al-Abduljabbar and Ibrahim A. Alnaser
Polymers 2025, 17(16), 2237; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17162237 - 17 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1401
Abstract
In this study, multifunctional nanocomposite membranes were fabricated using biopolymeric polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate (CA) composites via electrospinning. The hydrophobic nanocomposite membranes were reinforced with varying concentrations of silicon dioxide (silica/SiO2) nanoparticles. The developed PLA–CA–SiO2 nanofibrous membranes are [...] Read more.
In this study, multifunctional nanocomposite membranes were fabricated using biopolymeric polylactic acid (PLA) and cellulose acetate (CA) composites via electrospinning. The hydrophobic nanocomposite membranes were reinforced with varying concentrations of silicon dioxide (silica/SiO2) nanoparticles. The developed PLA–CA–SiO2 nanofibrous membranes are characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE- energy-dispersive SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Various physical and mechanical properties of the bio-nanocomposite membrane, such as tensile testing, infrared thermal imaging, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), water contact angle, hydrostatic pressure resistance, and breathability are also investigated. The analysis revealed that a small concentration of silica nanoparticles improves the morphological, mechanical, and thermal characteristics of nanocomposite membranes. The addition of silica nanoparticles improves the UV (A & B), visible and infrared blocking efficiency while also enhancing the waterproofness of protective textiles. The PLA–CA–SiO2 biopolymer nanocomposite membrane has a fibrous microstructure and demonstrated the tensile strength of 11.2 MPa, a Young’s modulus of 329 MPa, an elongation at break of 98.5%, a hydrostatic pressure resistance of 27 kPa, and a water contact angle of 143.7°. The developed electrospun composite membranes with improved properties provide strong potential to replace petroleum-based membranes with biopolymer-based alternatives, promising improved and wider usage for bio-related applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications)
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18 pages, 9524 KB  
Article
Synthesis, Characterization, and Application Prospects of Novel Soluble Polysilsesquioxane Bearing Glutarimide Side-Chain Groups
by Yuliya I. Bolgova, Artem I. Emel’yanov, Olga M. Trofimova, Anastasiya A. Ivanova, Alexander I. Albanov, Nadezhda P. Kuznetsova, Tatyana A. Semenova and Alexander S. Pozdnyakov
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3235; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233235 - 21 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1426
Abstract
The requirement for the development of advanced technologies is the need to create new functional thermostable soluble polysilsesquioxanes. Combining the potential of organosilicon chemistry and the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds is a promising direction for the formation of novel organosilicon polymer systems with [...] Read more.
The requirement for the development of advanced technologies is the need to create new functional thermostable soluble polysilsesquioxanes. Combining the potential of organosilicon chemistry and the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds is a promising direction for the formation of novel organosilicon polymer systems with new properties and new possibilities for their practical application. Using the classical method of hydrolysis and polycondensation of previously unknown trifunctional (trimethoxysilylpropyl)glutarimide in the presence or absence of an acid or base catalyst, a universal approach to the formation of new thermostable soluble polysilsesquioxanes with glutarimide side-chain groups is proposed, which forms the basis for the synthesis of polysilsesquioxane polymers with different functionality. The weight average molecular weight of silsesquioxanes, determined by gel permeation chromatography, is practically independent of the reaction conditions and is 10–12 kDa; at the same time, the molecular weight distribution remains low and amounts to 1.38–1.47. According to thermogravimetric analysis, the resulting polysiloxanes have high thermal stability up to 335 °C. By the dynamic light scattering method, it was established that in an aqueous solution, silsesquioxane macromolecules are in an associated state, forming supramolecular structures due to the intermolecular interaction of individual macromolecules. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the particles was 46 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the amorphous nature of the polymer. Polymer film coatings based on synthesized silsesquioxanes are characterized by 98% transmission in the visible spectrum and resistance to ultraviolet radiation, which is promising for the creation of functional transparent film coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silicon-Based Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications)
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