Strong,Thermally Superinsulating Biopolymer–Silica Aerogel Hybrids by Cogelation of Silicic Acid with Pectin |
| |
Authors: | Dr. Shanyu Zhao Dr. Wim J. Malfait Dr. Arnaud Demilecamps Dr. Yucheng Zhang Dr. Samuel Brunner Lukas Huber Dr. Philippe Tingaut Dr. Arnaud Rigacci Dr. Tatiana Budtova Dr. Matthias M. Koebel |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Building Energy Materials & Components Lab, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, CH‐8600 Dübendorf (Switzerland);2. MINES ParisTech, PSL Research University, CEMEF ‐ Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux, UMR CNRS 7635, CS 10207, 06904 Sophia Antipolis (France);3. Electron Microscopy Center, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, CH‐8600 Dübendorf (Switzerland);4. Wood Laboratory, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, CH‐8600 Dübendorf (Switzerland);5. MINES ParisTech, PERSEE ‐ Centre Procédés, Energies Renouvelables et Systèmes Energétiques, CS 10207, rue Claude Daunesse, 06904 Sophia Antipolis Cedex (France) |
| |
Abstract: | Silica aerogels are excellent thermal insulators, but their brittle nature has prevented widespread application. To overcome these mechanical limitations, silica–biopolymer hybrids are a promising alternative. A one‐pot process to monolithic, superinsulating pectin–silica hybrid aerogels is presented. Their structural and physical properties can be tuned by adjusting the gelation pH and pectin concentration. Hybrid aerogels made at pH 1.5 exhibit minimal dust release and vastly improved mechanical properties while remaining excellent thermal insulators. The change in the mechanical properties is directly linked to the observed “neck‐free” nanoscale network structure with thicker struts. Such a design is superior to “neck‐limited”, classical inorganic aerogels. This new class of materials opens up new perspectives for novel silica–biopolymer nanocomposite aerogels. |
| |
Keywords: | hybrid aerogels NMR spectroscopy polysaccharides transmission electron microscopy |
|
|