Nanoporous Aerogel Textiles: Forming Strategies, Charming Properties, and Emerging Applications

Abstract

Nanoporous aerogel textiles, integrating the ultra-light-weight nature and high specific surface area of aerogels with the flexibility and processability of traditional textiles, have emerged as a revolutionary class of nanoporous materials, driving paradigm shifts in textile engineering. These recently rising advanced materials address the growing demands for high-performance textiles in extreme environments, intelligent wearables, and environmental remediation, overcoming the limitations of conventional fabrics in terms of weight, efficiency, and multifunctionality. This review presents a first comprehensive overview of nanoporous aerogel textiles, starting with their historical evolution and the driving forces behind their development. It systematically elaborates on the construction strategies of aerogel textiles, including the hybridization of aerogel microparticles with traditional textile materials and the fabrication of standalone aerogel-based textiles (i.e., aerogel fibers, yarns, and fabrics). Additionally, the nano-confined functionalization of aerogel textiles by incorporating phase change materials (PCMs) and other functional components is discussed. The review further highlights their charming properties, ranging from mechanical strength, thermal insulation, and permeability to adsorptive capacity and flame retardancy. Various emerging applications across personal thermal management, environmental protection, wearable electronics, biomedical fields, and aerospace technologies are explored in detail. Finally, the existing challenges are analyzed, along with perspectives on future trends including AI-driven design, biomimetic innovation, and the standardization of testing protocols to bridge academic research and industrial needs. We believe that this review might further accelerate the development of these rising nanoporous aerogel textiles and help to find more important applications in various emerging fields.

Graphical Abstract

This review focuses on nanoporous aerogel textiles, which integrate aerogels’ ultra-light-weight and superior thermal insulation with textiles’ flexibility and processability, which covers the historical evolution, classifies them into particle-hybridized and standalone systems, elaborates construction strategies, charming properties, multi-field applications, and outlines future directions like AI-driven design and testing standardization.

Keywords

Transformative material / Nanoporous aerogel / Textile engineering / Nano-confined functionalization / Future trends

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52373257)

Basic Research Program of Jiangsu(BK20253059)

Suzhou Science and Technology Plan(SYC2022125)

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(JUSRP202501045)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China