Theoretical study of structural and electronic properties of methyl silsesquioxanes

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-21-2002

Abstract

Calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) were performed on various structural isomers of methyl silsesquioxanes, [MeSiO3/2]n where n = 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16, to study their structural and electronic properties. The calculated results find the stability of methyl silsesquioxanes, except [MeSiO3/2]4, against fragmentation and hydrolysis, and of one isomer of [MeSiO3/2]14 against hydrolysis. The deformation density plots show that chemical bonding in methyl silsesquioxanes is mainly determined by the building block unit, (MeSiO3/2) as also seen in hydridosilsesquioxanes (HSQ). However, unlike HSQ, the large cages of methyl silsesquioxanes do not develop a localized electronic state in the HOMO-LUMO gap.

Publication Title

Journal of Physical Chemistry B

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