Properties
s-electron delocalisation is present in polysilanes that contrasts organic polymers
(e.g. polyacetylene) that have p-electron delocalisation.
Physcial properties arising from delocalisation including strong electronic
absorption, conductivity, photoconductivity and photosensitivity.
s-electron delocalisation occurs primarily because of the good overlap of Si-Si
bonds and lower electronegativity of Si relative to carbon.
The electronic description of many atom materials can be described using band
theory. You will study band theory in year 3, however briefly: