Progress on cage polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Cage Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes(POSS) have been one of the rising organic/inorganic hybrid nanomaterials in real molecular level in recent years.The organic inorganic hybrid cage structures and the corresponding properties are introduced.The synthesis methods of POSS monomers and their derivations by hydrolytic condensation of trifunctional organosilicon monomers are summarized.The problems of low productivity and high cost during the synthesis are put forward.At the same time,the characterizations,the hybrid structures and the preparations of POSS-based polymers are outlined.The applications of POSS in various fields are presented.The developing trends and the problems which need to be resolved of POSS-based materials are discussed at last.