Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)is a category of organosilicon compounds with peculiar nanostructure

which has a well-defined cage-like inorganic silica-like core surrounded by various organic groups. The inorganic core provides it with high hardness

while the organic groups endow it with good compatibility with the polymer matrix. In recent years

octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS)received much attention owing to its excellent thermal stability and diverse functionalization methods because of the presence of aromatic phenyl groups. In this paper

the synthesis and properties of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane are de scribed

with the emphasis on the progress of functionalized octapheny lsilsesquioxanes

including octani tro-

octaamino-

octaacetyl-

polybromo-

polyhydroxy-

polyisocyanate-

polycarboxyl-

polychlorocarbonyl-

polymethacry late-OPS as well as the preparations of polyimide

polyurethane

polymethyl methacrylate and epoxy resin hypercrosslinked nanocomposites employing the OPS-based macromonomers as crosslinkers. The trends for developing new functionalized OPS compounds and their potential applications in aeronautics and astronautics

flame-retardant and functional micro/mesoporous materials fields are also introduced.