Perfect and nearly perfect silsesquioxane (SQs) nanoconstruction sites and Janus SQs

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 335 - 347
• Main Authors: Laine, R. M., Roll, M., Asuncion, M., Sulaiman, S., Popova, V., Bartz, D., Krug, D. J., Mutin, P. H.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.06.2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coatings; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Contact angle; Exact sciences and technology; Functional groups; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Symmetry; Silsesquioxanes; Janus silsesquioxanes; Perfect 3-D nanobuilding blocks; 3-D star molecules; Spray coating; Layer-by-layer coatings; Layer-by-layer coatings .Spray coating; Silsesquioxane polymer; Sol gel process; Silsesquioxanes .Perfect 3-D nanobuilding blocks
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-008-1700-9

Cubic silsesquioxanes (SQs) offer perfect and nearly perfect 3-D symmetry with eight functional groups with each functional group occupying a different octant in Cartesian space. This paper is concerned with the synthesis of both highly symmetrical octa-monofunctional SQs and statistically bifunctional SQs wherein because of similar properties each functionality separates to one side of the cubically symmetric SQ giving Janus-like behavior. In the latter case we find these materials to offer novel properties of use in making both coatings with controlled contact angles ranging from 50–120 °C, with hardnesses (pencil) as high as 6H and the opportunity to make layer-by-layer coatings.