TABLE OF CONTENTS Polysilanes are polymers containing catenated silicon chains. These polymers have been attracting considerable attention in recent years because of their interesting electronic and photophysical properties [ [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]]. Homopolymers of polysilanes can be of the type [( n-C 6H 13) 2Si] n, where similar side chains are present on silicon, or of the type [PhMeSi] n, where dissimilar side chains are present. Copolymers of polysilanes can be of the type [(PhMeSi) x(Me 2Si) y] where there is a random arrangement of the two different types of organosilicon units or of the type [Me 2Si-Si( nHex) 2] n where the two types of organosilicon units alternate with each other in the polymer chain (Fig. 7.1). Polysilanes are a large family of inorganic polymers. There is considerable diversity in their structure which is brought about by a variation of the side chain.
Polysilanes are quite different from the other inorganic polymers that we have discussed in this book so far. Unlike polyphosphazenes, [R 2P=N] n, or polysiloxanes, [R 2Si-O] n which contain two different elements that alternate with each other in their polymeric chains, polysilanes contain only one element viz., silicon in the main chain of the polymer. In some respects this is somewhat similar to what is found in many organic polymers such as polyethylene. However, even in many organic polymers...
