Polymethylsilsesquioxane–Cellulose
Nanofiber
Biocomposite Aerogels with High Thermal Insulation, Bendability, and
Superhydrophobicity
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
Polymethylsilsesquioxane–cellulose
nanofiber (PMSQ-CNF)
composite aerogels have been prepared through sol-gel in a solvent
containing a small amount of CNFs as suspension. Since these composite
aerogels do not show excessive aggregation of PMSQ and CNF, the original
PMSQ networks are not disturbed. Composite aerogels with low density
(0.020 g cm<sup>–3</sup> at lowest), low thermal conductivity
(15 mW m<sup>–1</sup> K<sup>–1</sup>), visible light
translucency, bending flexibility, and superhydrophobicity thus have
been successfully obtained. In particular, the lowest density and
bending flexibility have been achieved with the aid of the physical
supporting effect of CNFs, and the lowest thermal conductivity is
comparable with the original PMSQ aerogels and standard silica aerogels.
The PMSQ-CNF composite aerogels would be a candidate to practical
high-performance thermal insulating materials