Self-reinforcement of Light, Temperature-Resistant Silica Nanofibrous Aerogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties

Tao Huang; Yue Zhu; Jie Zhu; Hao Yu; Qinghua Zhang; Meifang Zhu

doi:10.1007/s42765-020-00054-8

Advanced Fiber Materials ›› 2020, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (6) :338 -347. DOI: 10.1007/s42765-020-00054-8

Research Article

Self-reinforcement of Light, Temperature-Resistant Silica Nanofibrous Aerogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties

Tao Huang ²
, Yue Zhu ²
, Jie Zhu ²
, Hao Yu ¹^,²^,^d
, Qinghua Zhang ¹^,²
, Meifang Zhu ¹^,²

Author information +

¹Key Laboratory of High Performance Fibers and Products, Ministry of Education, Donghua University, 201620, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

²State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 201620, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

^d yh@dhu.edu.cn

Tao Huang

obtained his Ph.D. in 2016 from the Donghua University. Since 2019, he is a research assistant professor in Donghua University. His research interests mainly include functional polymer materials, structural analysis and characterization of nanomaterials and aerogels fabrications.

Yue Zhu

obtained her master's degree in 2019 from Donghua University, China. Her research mainly focuses on electrospinning and fabrication of nanofiber based aerogels.

Jie Zhu

obtained her master's degree in 2020 from Donghua University, China. Her research mainly focuses on polymer based aerogels and functional polymer material modifications.

Hao Yu

obtained his Ph.D. in 2003 from the Donghua University. Since 2013, he is a full professor in Donghua University. His main research focuses on triboelectric nanogenerators, modification of chemical fiber and electrospinning.

Qinghua Zhang

received his Ph.D. in 1999 from the Donghua University. Since 2005, he is a full professor in Donghua University. His main research topics are devoted to (i) structural design and synthesis of high performance polymers; (ii) organic/inorganic hybrid materials and their electrochemical behaviors.

Meifang Zhu

received her Ph.D. in 1999 from the Donghua University. Since 1998, she is a full professor in Donghua University. In 2019, she was elected to be a member of Chinese Academy of Science (Academician). Her main research topics are devoted to organic/inorganic hybrid materials and modification of chemical fibers.

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Abstract

Abstract

Silica aerogels have attracted significant interest in thermal insulation applications because of their low thermal conductivity and great thermal stability, however, their fragility has limited their application in every-day products. Herein, a self-reinforcing strategy to design silica nanofibrous aerogels (SNFAs) is proposed using electrospun SiO₂ nanofibers as the matrix and a silica sol as a high-temperature nanoglue. Adopting this approach results in a strong and compatible interfacial interaction between the SiO₂ fibers and the silica sol, which results in the SNFAs exhibiting high-temperature-resistant and tunable mechanical properties from elastic to rigid. Furthermore, additional properties such as low density, high thermal insulation performance, and fire-resistance are still retained. The self-reinforcing method described herein may be extended to numerous other new ceramic aerogels that require robust mechanical properties and high-temperature resistance.

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Tao Huang, Yue Zhu, Jie Zhu, Hao Yu, Qinghua Zhang, Meifang Zhu. Self-reinforcement of Light, Temperature-Resistant Silica Nanofibrous Aerogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2020, 2(6): 338-347 DOI:10.1007/s42765-020-00054-8