Abstract
We present a hybrid material system comprising polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and oligosaccharides, offering a versatile platform for constructing unique spherical phases. The sugar-POSS hybrids were synthesized using a thiol-ene reaction between thiol-functionalized POSS (alkyl side chain: isobutyl (BPOSS) or isooctyl (OPOSS)) and allyl-functionalized maltooligosaccharides (degree of polymerization: 1-4). The small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of the bulk samples revealed various anomalous self-assembled morphologies, including primitive monoclinic, body-centered orthorhombic, and Frank-Kasper phases. Importantly, the resulting nanostructures were dependent on not only the sugar volume fraction but also the physical state (crystalline or amorphous) of the POSS units. Notably, the amorphous OPOSS hybrids formed Frank-Kasper A15 phases. This work demonstrates the potential of sugar-POSS hybrids for advancing nanoscale design and expanding applications of functional nanomaterials.