Bioinspired SiC aerogels for super thermal insulation and adsorption with super-elasticity over 100,000 times compressions

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) aerogels with high porosity and excellent thermal stability are a promising thermal insulation and adsorption material. However, the poor mechanical properties of SiC aerogels greatly limit its practical application. Herein, inspired by flexible palm bark, for the first time, we report a novel method called “bioinspired link assembly” (BLA) to fabricate bioinspired SiC aerogels (BSA) with significant layered structure. The layered structure and elastic links are in situ constructed in bioinspired link assembly process. The BLA method optimizes structure of the BSA by regulate monolayer dimensions. Owing to the elastic links between the layered structures, the BSA can be bent 180°. Moreover, the BSA shows super-elasticity (elastic deformation up to 70 %) and fatigue resistance (100000 compressions). Benefiting from layered structure, the BSA exhibits an ultralow thermal conductivity (0.027 W m−1 K−1). In addition, BSA shows excellent absorption capacities (weight gain about 44 ∼ 72 times) for organic solvents. Therefore, the excellent comprehensive properties make BSA have broad application prospects in the fields of high temperature thermal insulation and oil pollution treatment.