A Novel Route for Preparation of Transparent and Superhydrophobic Silica Aerogels

Abstract

AbstractSilica aerogels were synthesized via sol-gel processing followed by a two-step surface modification and ambient pressure drying, using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS)/ethanol/n-hexane as surface modification agents. The transparent silica aerogels possessed the porosities, densities and specific surface areas in the range of 87.7–92.3%, 0.27–0.17 g·cm-3 and 852–1005 m2·g-1, respectively. The SEM and HRTEM analysis revealed the three-dimensional nanoporous structure of the silica aerogels. The presence of –CH3 functional groups on the surface of silica particles as indicated by the FTIR spectra was further confirmed by two visible exothermic peaks at 310 and 450–500 °C from the DTA curve. In addition, the silica aerogels were superhydrophobic with the contact angle as high as 160°.