Silole-containing polymers: Chemistry and optoelectronic properties

In this review, the synthesis and optoelectronic properties of various pi-conjugated-, sigma-conjugated-, pendanted-, and hyperbranched or dendritic silole-containing polymers (SCPs) are described. So far, substituted silole, dibenzosilole, dithienosilole, and bis-silicon-bridged stilbene have been incorporated into SCPs. The tunable bandgaps from 4.0-1.55 eV, variable fluorescent colors from UV to blue, green, and red (RGB) light, fluorescent chemo-sensors for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-type explosives, aggregation-induced emission, efficient electroluminescence emissions for RGB lights, phosphorescent hosts with high triplet energy level, efficient solar cells, stable field-effect transistors with high hole mobility in air, and attenuation of strong laser power, are the important features of SCPs.