气凝胶材料研究的新进展

Recent Research Progeress on Aerogel Materials

气凝胶通常经由溶胶凝胶过程和超临界干燥制备得到,是世界上最轻的固体物质。因其具有低密度、高孔隙率、大比表面积和低热导率等特点,在诸多领域具有潜在应用,然而复杂的干燥方法和脆弱的质地限制了它的实际推广。自气凝胶诞生以来,研究人员以简化干燥方法、强化力学性能为目标,不断对制备气凝胶的材料进行改进,并赋予气凝胶功能化。本文主要总结了近年来气凝胶的研究进展,着重介绍了有机气凝胶和有机无机杂化气凝胶的相关研究。

As the lighest solid material, aerogel, which is generally derived from so-gel process and dried by supercritical drying, has a wide range of potential applications for its low density, high porosity, large specific surface area and low thermal conductivity. However, the fragility and the complicated drying methods always restrain the utility of aerogels. Since aerogel was first created, researchers have made tireless effort to simplify the drying methods and strengthen the mechanical properties of aerogels with novel starting materials, endowing aerogels new functions. In this paper, recent progresses of aerogel research have been reviewed which focus mainly on the preparation and characterization of organic aerogels and organic-inorganic hybrid aerogels.