Bridged polysilsesquioxanes are hybrid organic-inorganic materials based on molecular building blocks. They are readily prepared by the sol-gel polymerization of monomers with two or more trialkoxysilyl groups attached to an organic bridging group. In most cases gelation occurs quickly and at lower concentrations than for silica sol-gels. Furthermore, polysilsesquioxane gels form with compositions that are inaccessible by sol-gel polymerization of organotrialkoxysilanes with or without silica co-monomers. The bridged construction of the monomer permits hybrid gels with homogenous mixing of organic and inorganic phases to be prepared with optically, mechanically or chemically responsive functions. By varying the bridging group, nonporous and porous forms can be obtained as films, fibers, powders or monoliths. The choice of the bridging group also can be used to control the size of pores. Research is divided into Sol-Gel Chemistry, Porous Materials, and Pore Templating.

Loy, Douglas A.; Shea, Kenneth J. Bridged Polysilsesquioxanes. Highly Porous Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials. Chem. Rev. (Washington, D. C.) (1995), 95(5), 1431-42.

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