Spectroscopy and photophysics of methylphenylsiloxaneand diphenylsiloxane-based molecules and polymers

Spectroscopy and photophysics of various types of methylphenylsiloxane- and diphenylsiloxane-based oligomers and polymers are reviewed. The molecules treated here include homopolymers such as poly(methylphenylsiloxane) and copolymers such as poly(dimethylsiloxane-codiphenylsiloxane) as well as related oligomers or molecules such as diphenyltetramethyldisiloxane. These polymers and oligomers normally exhibit monomer fluorescence in fluid solution at temperatures near room temperature, and the monomer fluorescence and phosphorescence in rigid matrices at 77 K. In addition to these emissions, the excimer fluorescence is often observed depending on the molecular structure of the siloxanes. These emission properties are rationalized based on the molecular structure and kinetics of the excimer formation processes as well as on the flexibility of the Si-O-Si bonds.