Low-Refractive-Index Deep-Ultraviolet Transparent Poly(fluoroalkyl- co-methylsilsesquioxane) Resins Synthesized by Cosolvent-Free Hydrolytic Polycondensation of Organotrimethoxysilanes

J Phys Chem B. 2021 Jul 29;125(29):8238-8242. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04308. Epub 2021 Jul 19.

Abstract

Cosolvent-free (solventless) hydrolytic polycondensation of fluoroalkyltrimethoxysilanes of linear fluoroalkyl groups of the form R = CnF2n+1C2H4 (n = 1, 4, and 8) and methyltrimethoxysilane followed by thermal curing yielded dense polymeric silsesquioxane (SQ) resins with low refractive indices and deep-ultraviolet transparency with an ultraviolet absorption edge at ∼210 nm. The refractive index at 589 nm was adjustable at ∼1.35-1.39, and the lowest value was ∼1.354 for the stiff resin and ∼1.347 for the soft resin of poly(R-co-Me-SQ) prepared at n = 8. The refractive indices of these resins were consistent with the linear combinations of molar refractivities of constituent functional groups, and there were no free-volume anomalies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Polymers*
  • Refractometry*

Substances

  • Polymers