Introduction
Organic-inorganic hybrid materials have attracted more and more attention in the research of optoelectronic devices due to their adjustable properties that can be used to modify their physical and optoelectronic properties.An important subclass of these hybrid materials is the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials.Organic-inorganic hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor materials are widely studied and applied in modern organic optoelectronic devices.These polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials are formed by combining polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules with semiconducting polymers molecules. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecules offer flexibility in terms of morphology, dimension and composition. POSS can also enhance the charge carrier mobility, reduce the band gap and optical attenuation of the materials due to its low dielectric constant. This review provides a comprehensive introduction of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials, including the structure and properties, synthesis and applications.
Structure and Properties
Organic-inorganic hybrid materials with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cores have a variety of structures in terms of both morphology and composition. In terms of morphology, the POSS molecules can be either spherical or cubes. In terms of composition, the POSS molecules can be either homo filling or hetero filling. The POSS molecules can also be combined with various materials such as metal- or nonmetal- oxides, polyols, silanes or siloxane-based compounds. The POSS molecules act mainly as a linking binding and bridging agent between various materials or components, thus forming a hybrid material.
The polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials offer a variety of unique physical, optical and electronic properties. The POSS molecules can provide flexibility in terms of their morphology, dimension and composition. The POSS molecules can also enhance the charge carrier mobility and reduce the band gap and optical attenuation of the materials due to their lower dielectric constant. In addition, the POSS molecules can also provide barrier property and improved thermal stability, which makes them suitable for use in various optoelectronic devices.
Synthesis
The synthesis of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials is a multistep process. First, the POSS molecules need to be synthesized from the corresponding starting materials. Then, the semiconducting polymer molecules need to be added to the substrate to form the hybrid nanocomposites. Several parameters such as the molar ratio of POSS to the semiconducting polymer molecules, the concentration of POSS and the concentration of the semiconducting polymer molecules need to be optimized to obtain the desired properties.
Applications
Organic-inorganic hybrid materials with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cores have been extensively studied and applied in modern optoelectronic devices, such as thin-film transistors (TFTs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaic devices. The improved charge carrier mobility and lower dielectric constant of the POSS molecules can be utilized to reduce the device operating voltage and increase the device performance. In addition, the good thermal stability of the POSS molecules can also be used to improve the operational stability of the device.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) polymers-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials are a versatile class of hybrid materials. Their adjustable properties can be used to tailor the physical and optoelectronic properties of the materials for various optoelectronic applications. The POSS molecules offer flexibility in terms of morphology, dimension and composition, as well as improved charge carrier mobility and lower dielectric constant. The good thermal stability of the POSS molecules can also be used to improve the operational stability of the device. The synthesis of the POSS polymer-semiconductor hybrid nanocomposite materials is a multistep process and requires the optimization of several parameters. These POSS hybrid nanocomposites have been studied and applied in various optoelectronic devices, including thin-film transistors, organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic devices.
