Silicon-based polymers future directions

Crystalline and amorphous silicons, which are currently investigated in the field of solid-state physics, are still considered as unrelated to polysilanes and related macromolecules, which are studied in the field of organosilicon chemistry. A new idea proposed in this chapter is that these materials are related and can be understood in terms of the dimensional hierarchy of silicon-backbone materials. The electronic structures of one-dimensional polymers (polysilanes) are discussed. The effects of side groups and conformations were calculated theoretically and are discussed in the light of such experimental data as UV absorption, photoluminescence, and UV photospectroscopy (UPS) measurements. Finally, future directions in the development of silicon-based polymers are indicated on the basis of some novel efforts to extend silicon-based polymers to high-dimensional polymers, one-dimensional superlattices, and metallic polymers with alternating double bonds. 

Figure 19. Future directions for silicon-based polymers.

The objective of this chapter is to describe some of the key trends, driving forces, and challenges that will set the future direction of the rapidly advancing field of silicon-based materials. In the process of identifying these key trends, two assumptions were made. The first assumption is that commercial applications will be a major impetus for the development of silicon-based polymers. The response of the late Philip Handler, former head of the National Academy of Science, to a question on science spending corroborates this assumption. Handler s reply (3) was... 

Weyenberg Lane Future Directions for Silicon-Based Polymers 755... 

Weyenberg, D. R. Lane, T. H., Future Directions for Silicon-Based Pol)cmer Science. In Silicon-Based Polymer Science. A Comprehensive Resource, Zeigler, J. M. Fearon, F. W. G., Eds. American Chemical Society Washington, DC, 1990 Vol. 224, pp 753-764. 

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