Strong, Thermally Superinsulating Biopolymer–Silica Aerogel Hybrids by Cogelation of Silicic Acid with Pectin

摘要: Silica aerogels are excellent thermal insulators, but their brittle nature has prevented widespread application. To overcome these mechanical limitations, silica-biopolymer hybrids a promising alternative. A one-pot process to monolithic, superinsulating pectin-silica hybrid is presented. Their structural and physical properties can be tuned by adjusting the gelation pH pectin concentration. Hybrid made at 1.5 exhibit minimal dust release vastly improved while remaining insulators. The change in directly linked observed "neck-free" nanoscale network structure with thicker struts. Such design superior "neck-limited", classical inorganic aerogels. This new class of materials opens up perspectives for novel nanocomposite