A research group led by Prof. WANG Zhenyang and ZHANG Shudong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently developed a series of synergistic aerogel materials with high temperature resistance, mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance.

The research results were published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and Chemical Engineering Journal respectively.

Inorganic SiO₂ aerogel is a porous solid material self-assembled by silica nanoparticles. Its abundant particle pores are filled with air, which gives it the characteristics of low volume density, high porosity and low thermal conductivity. It is considered to be a solid material with the lowest thermal conductivity, and has become one of the most critical insulation materials in high-end thermal control fields.

However, the structural brittleness and low temperature resistance (≤700℃) of inorganic SiO₂ aerogel limit its service application in extreme environments.

To address the challenges mentioned above, the researchers introduced a small amount of ZrO₂ crystalline phase to one-dimensional SiO₂ fibers, significantly enhancing their temperature resistance.

They also created multiple fusion nodes between the SiO₂ fibers to improve compressive strength and fracture toughness. The resulting aerogel has a thermal conductivity as low as 0.092 W/m·K, an elastic strain of over 80%, and a compressive strength of 389 kPa. It also maintains stability and elasticity across a wide temperature range from -196℃ to 1300℃.

By using montmorillonite nanosheets and hydroxyapatite nanowires, the researchers also created a two-dimensional aerogel with excellent thermal insulation and flame retardant properties. This material demonstrated a compression modulus of 80 MPa in standard tests.

In addition, the research group investigated biomass aerogels for use as eco-friendly building insulation materials and developed biomass sodium alginate aerogels that can support more than 2,600 times their own weight and possess excellent flame retardancy and self-extinguishing properties. 

This study not only overcomes the limitations of balancing between high temperature resistance and strength in aerogels but also provides new materials for efficient heat insulation, fire prevention, and mechanical stability under extreme conditions.

Figure: Two-dimensional aerogels and their properties. (Image by LIU Cui)