TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Catalyst: The catalyst is in the form of cluster having size of less than 2 nm. Preferred Compound: The monosilane is chosen from benzylmethyl chlorosilane, N-butylmethyl chlorosilane, di-n- butyl chlorosilane, ethylene chlorosilane, diethyl chlorosilane, dimethylchlorosilane, N-octadecyl methyl chlorosilane, phenylmethyl chlorosilane, diphenylchlorosilane, cyclohexylmethyl chlorosilane, cyclopentylmethyl chlorosilane, N-propylmethyl chlorosilane, tolylmethyl chlorosilane, allyl methyl chlorosilane, 5-hexenyl methyl chlorosilane, vinyl methyl chlorosilane, t- butylphenyl methoxy silane, dimethyl ethoxysilane, dimethyl methoxysilane, dimethyl-n-propoxysilane, N-octadecyl methyl methoxysilane, octyl methyl methoxysilane, cyclopentylethyl methoxy silane, phenylmethyl ethoxy silane, diphenyl ethoxy silane, and vinyl methyl ethoxy silane. The disilane is chosen from tertiary-butyl dichlorosilane, phenyl dichlorosilane, dichloro cyclohexylsilane, dichloroethyl silane, dichlorodimethylsilane, dichloro phenyl silane, dichloro hexylsilane, dichloro(3-phenylpropyl) silane, dichloro isopropyl silane, dichloro(4-phenylbutyl) silane, N-propyl dichlorosilane, dichloroallyl silane, dichlorovinyl silane, trichlorosilane, butyl dimethoxy silane, dodecyl diethoxy silane, ethyldiethoxysilane, methyldimethoxysilane, methyldiethoxy silane, N-octyl-diethoxy silane, octadecyl dimethoxysilane, phenyl diethoxy silane, phenyldimethoxysilane, and vinyl dimethoxysilane. The trisilane is chosen from trimethoxysilane, triethoxysilane, and tri-n-propoxysilane.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Method: Dehydrogenation polymerization of silane compound of formula: R2'-Si(-R1')(-R3')-H is carried out to obtain polysilane-based compound (II) or (III). The liquefied polysilane-based compound is coated on a substrate and heat-treated to obtain amorphous silicon thin film. Preferred Definitions:    M=Co, Ni, Pd or Pt;    X=Cl;    R1'-R3'=methyl, ethyl, propyl, propenyl, propynyl, butyl, cyclohexyl, 4-methyl cyclohexyl, 4-ethyl cyclohexyl, 4-isopropyl cyclohexyl, phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, mesityl, xylyl, tolyl, 4-methyl phenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 4- isopropylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-methoxy phenyl, 4- isopropoxyphenyl, cumyl, methoxy, ethoxy, phenoxy, thiomethyl, trimethylsilyl, 2-methyl cyclohexyl, 2-ethyl cyclohexyl, 2-isopropyl cyclohexyl, o-methyl phenyl, o- ethylphenyl, o-isopropylphenyl, o-t-butylphenyl, o-methoxy phenyl, o-isopropoxyphenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl or anthracenyl;    n=5-6;and    m=2-5.