Bright blue fluorescence-emitting hyperbranched polysiloxane simultaneously carrying unconjugated carbon–carbon double bonds and hydroxyl groups is reported for the first time.

A novel silicon-containing hyperbranched epoxy (SHBEp) has been explored via a one-pot A 2 + B 3 polycondensation reaction using (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (A-187) and excess neopentyl glycol (NPG) under solvent-free and catalyst-free conditions. We investigate for the first time bismaleimide (BMI) toughening effect using the fabricated polymer, and a series of SHBEp/BMI thermosets are then constructed, and then their mechanical properties like impact strength, flexural strength, and thermal stability are studied; meanwhile the toughening effect of SHBEp and conventional epoxy resin E51 is also compared. The results indicate that a proper addition of SHBEp (8 wt%) can significantly improve the toughness and thermal performance of thermosets compared to E51 with the same content. It is, therefore, revealed that the polymer is promising to act as an effective BMI toughener. Unexpectedly, a bright blue photoluminescence is observed when the SHBEp is excited under 365 nm UV light, and its average fluorescence lifetime and absolute fluorescence quantum yield are 4.30 ns and 4.61% respectively. It is demonstrated by our primary investigation that the epoxide and hydroxyl groups simultaneously help the light emission. Thus, the SHBEp bearing unconventional chromophores is also particularly expected to be a new light-emitting material. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: GPC curve, the predicted 29 Si NMR of the obtained polymer, TGA and DSC curves, and additional hyperbranched polysiloxanes. See

A blue fl uorescence-emitting hyperbranched polysiloxane simultaneously containing hydroxyl and epoxy groups (HPHEp) has been developed through one-step A 2 + B 3 melt polycondensation between methoxyl groups of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (A-187) and hydroxyl groups of neopentyl glycol under catalyst-free conditions. The emission intensity of the HPHEp in ethanol solution continuously arises in pace with raising its concentration, and the brightest luminescence is observed even in the 100% solid state. Studies show that the aggregation of oxygen-rich heteroatoms from the hydroxyl and epoxy groups is assigned to the luminous source. Intriguingly, the HPHEp displays reinforced photoluminescence after polyetherifi cation by 20 wt% polyether amine M2070; nevertheless, the modifi ed polymer represents diminished emission intensity along with increasing the polyether content. Thus, this investigation offers a new methodology of designing photoluminescent materials.