Silicon based materials and polymers are made of silicon containing polymers mainly
macromolecular siloxanes (silicones). This book covers the different kinds of siliconbased
polymers: silicones silsesquioxanes (POSS) and silicon-based copolymers. Other silicon
containig polymers: polycarbosilanes polysilazanes siloxane-organic copolymers silicon
derived high-tech ceramics: silicon carbide and oxycarbide silicon nitride etc. have also a
very important practical meaning and a hudge number of practical applications. These materials
make up products in a variety of industries and products including technical and medical
applicatons. Polycrystalline silicon is the basic material for large scale photovoltaic (PV)
applications as solar cells. Technical applications of crystalline (c-Si) and amorphous (a-Si)
silicon (fully inorganic materials) silicon nanowires are still quickly growing especially in
the fi eld of microelectronics optoelectronics photonics. and photovoltaics catalysts and
different electronic devices (e.g. sensors thermoelectric devices). This book is ideal for
researchers and as such covers the industrial perspective of using each class of silicon based
materials. Discusses silanes silane coupling agents (SCA) silica silicates silane modified
fillers silsesquioxanes silicones and other silicon polymers and copolymers for practical
applications as polymeric materials and very useful ingredients in materials science.
