Super thermal insulation SiC aerogel with high elasticity and good adsorption performance prepared by constructing coaxial precursor

Abstract

Silicon Carbide (SiC) aerogel is a material with 3D network structure, low density, and high-temperature resistance, showing a broad application potential in various areas. It is currently challenging for SiC aerogels to balance the mechanical and high-temperature insulation properties. Here, a novel strategy was implemented for the first time, by constructing coaxial precursors. This structure can achieve in-situ Si-C binding and maximization the reaction sites to achieve fibers growth uniformly. The sintering time is reduced by over 90%. The fatigue resistance and elastic properties of the SiC aerogel were significantly improved. In addition, the uniform nanowire fiber and pore structure enable an ultra-low thermal conductivity of 0.018 W/(m K) at room temperature, 0.082 W/(m K) even at 900 °C, and superior structural stability at 1400 °C. Our strategy provides a feasible approach for the structural design of thermally insulated SiC aerogels with high elastic resilience and good adsorbability.