As-prepared Aerogels Research Articles

Ultralight, flexible and conductive silver nanowire/nanofibrillated cellulose aerogel for multifunctional strain sensor

Wearable strain sensors have drawn growing interest in the field of intelligent electronic devices because of their inherent advantages including miniaturization and portability. For practical applications, strain sensors with lightness, flexibility, and high sensitivity are urgently desired. Herein, the interconnected silver nanowires (AgNWs) are assembled into the nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) aerogel through unidirectional freeze-drying yielding an ultralight and conductive AgNWs/NFC aerogel (SNA) with ordered pore orientation. After thermal welding, the SNA possesses unique electron transfer channels, which can efficiently eliminate the interfacial electrical resistance at the AgNWs junctions and bring an impressive conductivity enhancement for the composite aerogel. Benefiting from the synergy of the desired microstructure and superior conductivity of as-prepared aerogel, the derived sensor shows desirable sensitivity (3.86 kPa−1), fast response time (180 ms), ultralow density (less than 13.58 mg/cm3) and detection limit of 0.5% strain, and exceptional stability and durability (over 10,000 cycles). Significantly, the integrated conductive network in SNA simultaneously offers real-time monitoring of subtle deformations and electrophysiological signals, which enables the designs of wearable device, acoustic sensor, and vehicles’ speed and loading detector. The presented strategy opens up a new possibility for designing and manufacturing next-generation multifunctional strain sensor to bring the technology much closer to commercialization.

High-yield production of carbon nanotubes from waste polyethylene and fabrication of graphene-carbon nanotube aerogels with excellent adsorption capacity

• A protectant was introduced, for the first time, for pyrolysis of waste PE into CNTs . • A yield ratio as high as 59.0% was achieved using oleylamine protectant. • As-obtained CNTs had an adsorption capacity of methylene blue up to 107.1 mg/g. • Graphene-CNT aerogel showed excellent hydrophobicity and mechanical stability. • Adsorption capacities of oil/organics over as-prepared aerogel were 289–410 g/g. Waste plastics recycling and oil/organics remediation are environmental issues of global concern. In this work, a protectant was introduced, for the first time, to make highly efficient catalysts for pyrolysis of waste plastics into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high yield. By using waste polyethylene, Co(NO 3 ) 2 and oleylamine respectively as carbon source, catalyst precursor and protectant, a yield as high as 59.0% was achieved. The CNTs exhibited a high adsorption capacity for methylene blue (up to 107.1 mg/g). Furthermore, by combining the CNTs with graphene oxide, a graphene-CNT aerogel with a low density of 8.2 mg/cm 3 and high porosity of 96.0% was successfully prepared. It showed excellent hydrophobicity and mechanical stability, as well as high adsorption capacity of 289–410 g/g oil/organic solvent, which was much higher than most of these achieved by carbon-based three-dimensional materials reported previously, making the as-prepared aerogel a very promising adsorbent for oil/water separation.

Aligned Attapulgite-based aerogels with excellent mechanical property for the highly efficient solar steam generation

Solar steam generation has attracted much attention due to its efficient and ecofriendly characteristics for application in water desalination and wastewater treatment. Many strategies have been developed to prepare the photothermal conversion materials. However, it is a challenge for preparing the materials with high energy efficiency, long durability and excellent salt resistance under 1 kW·m−2 illumination by using low-cost materials and simple method. Here, we report an ATP (Attapulgite) based PArG aerogel with low thermal conductivity (0.167 W·m−1·K−1), high mechanical property and superhydrophilicity by using combination of physical/chemical crosslinking of the ATP, PVA, GO and PA and freeze-drying for the efficient solar steam generation. The as-prepared PArG-A30 aerogel shows aligned three-dimensional porous structure and possesses high evaporation performance both in salt solution and the simulated seawater. The evaporation rate is calculated to be 1.4914 kg·m−2·h−1 for pure water, 1.4382 kg·m−2·h−1 for 20% of NaCl solution and the corresponding energy conversion is found to be 89.5% and 86% under 1 kW·m−2 illumination. In addition, the as-prepared PArG-A30 aerogel shows excellent durability and salt resistance in 20% NaCl solution, indicating the excellent the desalination performance of the resultant PArG-A30 aerogels. This study may offer a new approach to scalable fabricate a novel solar steam generator for the efficient solar steam generation by using simple method and low-cost materials.

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethylcellulose based citric acid cross-linked magnetic aerogel as an efficient dye adsorbent

A low-cost, collectable, and efficient material is essential for adsorbing water pollution, such as dyes and heavy metal ions pollution. In this work, we proposed a novel strategy for the preparation of an efficient and collectable magnetic aerogel as adsorbent for dye. The magnetic aerogels were prepared from sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel using citric acid (CA) as the crosslinker, followed by vacuum freeze-drying technique to obtain aerogels. The effects of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle contents on the adsorption properties of the aerogels were investigated. The results show that the as-prepared magnetic composite aerogels exhibit porous structure and display good adsorption and collectable performance for methylene blue (MB) in water with the removal rate of 97.5% in 6 h. The maximum compress strength and absorption capacity of the magnetic aerogel with 1 wt% Fe3O4 nanoparticle loading for MB is 0.13 MPa and 83.6 mg/g, respectively. Aerogels with Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibited magnetism which enables the aerogels to easily collect. This excellent structure stability and collectability guarantees long-term integrity and floatability of the magnetic aerogels in water.

Environmentally Friendly and Multifunctional Shaddock Peel-Based Carbon Aerogel for Thermal-Insulation and Microwave Absorption

HighlightsThe eco-friendly shaddock peel-derived carbon aerogels were prepared by a freeze-drying method.Multiple functions such as thermal insulation, compression resistance and microwave absorption can be integrated into one material-carbon aerogel.Novel computer simulation technology strategy was selected to simulate significant radar cross-sectional reduction values under real far field condition..Eco-friendly electromagnetic wave absorbing materials with excellent thermal infrared stealth property, heat-insulating ability and compression resistance are highly attractive in practical applications. Meeting the aforesaid requirements simultaneously is a formidable challenge. Herein, ultra-light carbon aerogels were fabricated via fresh shaddock peel by facile freeze-drying method and calcination process, forming porous network architecture. With the heating platform temperature of 70 °C, the upper surface temperatures of the as-prepared carbon aerogel present a slow upward trend. The color of the sample surface in thermal infrared images is similar to that of the surroundings. With the maximum compressive stress of 2.435 kPa, the carbon aerogels can provide favorable endurance. The shaddock peel-based carbon aerogels possess the minimum reflection loss value (RLmin) of − 29.50 dB in X band. Meanwhile, the effective absorption bandwidth covers 5.80 GHz at a relatively thin thickness of only 1.7 mm. With the detection theta of 0°, the maximum radar cross-sectional (RCS) reduction values of 16.28 dB m2 can be achieved. Theoretical simulations of RCS have aroused extensive interest owing to their ingenious design and time-saving feature. This work paves the way for preparing multi-functional microwave absorbers derived from biomass raw materials under the guidance of RCS simulations.

Rapid Preparation of Mesoporous Methylsilsesquioxane Aerogels by Microwave Heating Technology.

Microwave heating technology is known as an alternative to traditional gas and electric heating sources. In this work, mesoporous methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ) aerogels were prepared via a sol–gel process accompanied by microwave heating technology, and microwave heating was used in the gelation of sol and the drying of wet gels, respectively. The effects of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as a surfactant and template, hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst, ethanol as a solvent, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a gelation agent, and microwave power on the pore structure of as-prepared MSQ aerogels were investigated in detail. Microwave heating at low power results in the acceleration of sol–gel transition and achieves the gelation within a few minutes. Appropriate amounts of chemical reagents and microwave heating at high power allow the preparation of mesoporous MSQ aerogels with a BET-specific surface area of 681.6 m2·g−1 and a mesopore size of 19 nm, and the resultant MSQ aerogel still has a BET specific surface area as high as 134 m2·g−1 after heat treatment at 600 °C for 2 h, showing high thermal stability. The MSQ aerogels/fibre composite possesses a low thermal conductivity of 0.039 W/(m·k)−1, displaying good thermal insulation. Microwave heating technology is a promising heating method for the preparation of other aerogels.

Super-flexible polyimide nanofiber cross-linked polyimide aerogel membranes for high efficient flexible thermal protection

• Novel super-flexible PI nanofiber crosslinked PI aerogel membrane was prepared. • The crosslinked structure realized the transition from brittleness to flexibility. • The lightweight membranes exhibited ultra-low thermal conductivity of 0.0279 W/mK. • The membranes showed high-temperature resistance and ultrahigh tensile modulus. Experimental preparation of lightweight and highly flexible aerogels has been a longstanding challenge, which limits their practical application in flexible thermal protection. Here, polyimide (PI) nanofiber cross-linked polyimide aerogel membranes were designed to achieve high flexibility, strong mechanical properties, and highly efficient heat-insulated performance. By taking full advantage of the perfect chemical compatibility and robust interfacial bonding strength between PI nanofibers and PI aerogel molecular chains, the PI aerogel membranes achieved the significant transformation from brittleness to high flexibility. The results demonstrate the addition of PI nanofibers exhibits significant reinforcement and toughening effect. PI nanofiber cross-linked PI aerogel membranes possess low density of 0.168 g/cm 3 and low thermal conductivity of 0.0279 W/mK. Moreover, 20 wt% PI nanofiber cross-linked PI aerogel membranes exhibit high tensile strength of 2.95 MPa, while the tensile strength of pure PI aerogel is 0.27 MPa. The as-prepared PI aerogel membrane exhibited high-temperature flexible thermal protection performance, which made it a candidate for the application in modern technology, military, and aerospace.

Facile Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Cross-Linked Nanocellulose Aerogels for Oil-Water Separation.

A facile and environmental-friendly approach was developed for the preparation of the cross-linked nanocellulose aerogel through the freeze-drying process and subsequent esterification. The as-prepared aerogel had a three-dimensional cellular microstructure with ultra-low density of 6.05 mg·cm−3 and high porosity (99.61%). After modifying by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HTMS), the nanocellulose aerogel displayed stable super-hydrophobicity and super-oleophilicity with water contact angle of 151°, and had excellent adsorption performance for various oil and organic solvents with the adsorption capacity of 77~226 g/g. Even after 30 cycles, the adsorption capacity of the nanocellulose aerogel for chloroform was as high as 170 g/g, indicating its outstanding reusability. Therefore, the superhydrophobic cross-linked nanocellulose aerogel is a promising oil adsorbent for wastewater treatment.

PVA/graphene Aerogels With High Mechanical Strength

In this study, graphene aerogels with high mechanical strength were successfully prepared by effectively doping graphene aerogels with different proportions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The structure of the as-prepared aerogels was studied by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The result indicated that the aerogels show a three-dimensional network-like structure and PVA has been successfully incorporated into graphene aerogels. The mechanical properties of the graphene aerogels doped with different proportions of PVA were tested, indicating that the PVA/GAs can support 7000 times of its own weight and its maximum compressive stress can be up to 400 KPa.

Construction of a Superhydrophobic Sodium Alginate Aerogel for Efficient Oil Absorption and Emulsion Separation.

Bio-based aerogels serve as potential materials in separation of oil/water mixtures. Nevertheless, there remain some key challenges, including expensive/toxic organic cross-linkers, unpromising reusability, and poor performance in emulsion separation. Hereby, a novel, robust, and superhydrophobic sodium alginate/graphene oxide/silicon oxide aerogel (SA/GO/SiO2-M) was fabricated by simple calcium ion cross-linking self-assembly, freeze-drying, and chemical vapor deposition methods based on the renewable and abundant raw materials. The as-prepared SA-based aerogel possesses high absorbency for varieties of organic solvents and oils. Importantly, it shows high efficiency in the separation of surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. SA/GO/SiO2-M aerogels display excellent reusability in both absorption and separation because of their good mechanical properties in the air and oil phase, and the mechanism in emulsion separation is discussed. This study shows that SA/GO/SiO2-M aerogels are a promising material in treating oil contaminants from different fields.

Highly porous and elastic aerogel based on ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires for high-performance bone regeneration and neovascularization.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is promising for the clinical treatment of bone defects because of its excellent biocompatibility and osteo-conductivity. However, highly porous HAP scaffolds usually exhibit high brittleness and poor mechanical properties, thus organic constituents are usually added to form composite materials. In this work, a highly porous and elastic aerogel made from ultralong HAP nanowires with ultrahigh porosity (∼98.5%), excellent elasticity and suitable porous structure is prepared as the high-performance scaffold for bone defect repair. The highly porous structure of the as-prepared aerogel is beneficial to bone ingrowth and matter/fluid transfer, and the high elasticity can ensure the structural integrity of the scaffold during bone regeneration. Therefore, the HAP nanowire aerogel scaffold can promote the adhesion, proliferation and migration of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), and elevate the protein expression of osteogenesis and angiogenesis related genes. The in vivo experimental results demonstrate that the HAP nanowire aerogel scaffold is favorable for the ingrowth of new bone and blood vessels, and thus can greatly accelerate bone regeneration and neovascularization. The as-prepared HAP nanowire aerogel scaffold shows promising potential for biomedical applications such as bone defect repair.

Adsorption performance and mechanism of Al2O3 aerogels towards aqueous U(VI) using template synthesis technology

The stable Al2O3 aerogels with low density were prepared via template synthesis method using different template materials and the as-prepared Al2O3 aerogels inherited the morphology of template materials, which showed different network structures. Meanwhile, the U(VI) removal on the Al2O3 aerogels from water was investigated. The kinetic analyses indicated that the U(VI) removal reached equilibrium within 180 min (pH = 7, C0 = 10 mg/L, m/V = 0.1 g/L and T = 298 K). The calculated maximum adsorption quantity of Al2O3-C, Al2O3-P and Al2O3-D aerogels at room temperature from Langmuir model reached 814.27, 736.67 and 529.15 mg/g, respectively (pH = 7, m/V = 0.1 g/L and T = 298 K). It could be seen that the Al2O3 aerogels possessed excellent adsorption performance to U(VI). Moreover, all U(VI) ions were almost removed completely on Al2O3 aerogels under the low concentration of U(VI) and the adsorption efficiency of all the regenerated adsorbents nearly remained unchanging after five circulation of adsorption-desorption. The results reflected that the Al2O3 aerogels would be potential adsorbents for the removal of U(VI). To clarify the interaction mechanism between U(VI) and Al2O3 aerogels, the analyses of XPS, FT-IR and XRD were carried out. Based on the results, the hydroxyl groups performed a central role to combine the U(VI) species and Al2O3 aerogels.

Alginate-Halloysite Nanocomposite Aerogel: Preparation, Structure, and Oil/Water Separation Applications.

Environmental remediation using green approaches for addressing various pollution-related issues, especially water pollution, is in high demand. Here, we designed an environmentally friendly, low-cost, and stable sodium alginate–halloysite clay composite aerogel (SAHA) for oil/water separation via a two-step synthesis procedure, including ionic crosslinking and freeze-drying. The as-prepared SAHA aerogels were characterized in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Characterization of the SAHA aerogels revealed a three-dimensional porous microstructure with uniformly dispersed halloysite nanotubes (HA) within the alginate matrix. The elemental composition of the hydrogels investigated using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the presence of minerals, such as magnesium, sodium, aluminum, and silicon in the SAHA aerogels. The presence of a hydrophilic alginate matrix combined with these unique morphological characteristics resulted in SAHA aerogels with underwater oleophobicity and excellent oil/water separation efficiency (up to 99.7%). The ease of fabrication, excellent oil/water separation, and multiple performances make the SAHA aerogel an interesting candidate for practical applications in water recycling.

Wood-inspired superelastic MXene aerogels with superior photothermal conversion and durable superhydrophobicity for clean-up of super-viscous crude oil

It remains a great challenge to develop functional aerogels with superior mechanical robustness, durable superhydrophobicity, and excellent photothermal conversion ability for the promising next generation of oil/water separation materials and energy regulation systems. Herein, inspired by wood structures, we proposed a facile strategy to develop MXene aerogels with super-elasticity, self-cleaning, excellent joule heating and superior photothermal conversion ability. Functionalized cellulose nanocrystal was synthesized via green mechanochemistry, which served as a wetting modifier and dispersant. MXene was applied to construct functional networks in waterborne polyurethane. With fine-tuning of nucleation-driving, the desirable microstructures could be controllably diversified for structure-adaptable functionality. The wood-inspired MXene aerogel showed durable superhydrophobicity (CA ≈ 152°), mechanical superelasticity (76.2% strain remaining after 100 compress-release cycles), highly efficient absorption capacity of light oil (63 g/g) and superior photothermal conversion ability. Also, the as-prepared MXene aerogel demonstrated ultrahigh viscosity crude oil (c.a.130000 mPa.s) absorption capacity of 24.5 g/g under 1 sun irradiation and recyclability of 76% after 5 cycles, much higher than those of the reported. This study provides a promising strategy for constructing integrated multifunctional aerogels with superior mechanical robustness to meet the increasing demands in many fields such as energy regulation devices and crude oil absorbents.

Assembly of Ultralight Dual Network Graphene Aerogel with Applications for Selective Oil Absorption.

High-performance graphene aerogels with well-developed internal structures are generally obtained by means of introducing additive materials such as carbon nanotubes, cellulose, and lignin into the aerogel network, which not only enhances the cost but also complicates the preparation process. Therefore, tailoring the internal structure of pristine graphene aerogel in a feasible way to achieve high performance is of great significance to the practical applications. Herein, a novel cysteamine/l-ascorbic acid graphene aerogel (CLGA) was fabricated by a simple one-step hydrothermal method followed by freeze-drying. Through the creative combination of the reducing agent l-ascorbic acid and cross-linking agent cysteamine, a dual-network structure was constructed by both layered physical stacking and vertical chemical cross-linking. The addition of cysteamine not only enhanced the reduction degree but also assisted the formation of more vertical connections between graphene nanosheets, resulting in more abundant pores with smaller sizes compared with graphene aerogels prepared by the traditional hydrothermal reduction method. CLGA possessed an ultra-low density of 4.2 mg/cm3 and a high specific surface area of 397.9 m2/g. As expected, this dual-network structure effectively improved the absorption capacity toward a variety of oil and organic solvents, with an outstanding oil absorption capacity up to 310 g/g. Furthermore, CLGA possessed good mechanical properties and oil/water selectivity. The absorbed oil could be recovered by both continuous absorption-removal process and mechanical squeezing, making the as-prepared aerogel superior absorbent material for a variety of applications, such as selective oil absorption and water treatment.

Renewable and robust biomass carbon aerogel derived from deep eutectic solvents modified cellulose nanofiber under a low carbonization temperature for oil-water separation

Carbon aerogels are potential materials in oil/water separation. However, the key challenges of the scare/toxic precursor, metals employment, unsatisfied reuse, and high calcination temperature still remain. Here, we fabricated a novel, robust and hydrophobic carbon aerogel (DCCA-350) derived from deep eutectic solvents (DESs, formed by glucose and choline chloride) modified cellulose nanofiber (CNF) under low carbonization temperature of 350 °C. The raw materials are renewable and abundant, and the as-prepared carbon aerogel possesses the high volume absorption capability for organic pollutants and oils range from 74% to 95%. Due to its excellent thermostability and mechanical properties, methods of combustion and distillation can be applied for the recycling of the DCCA-350 carbon aerogel up to 100 cycles. The effective oils/water separation is mainly attributed to the presence of roughness surface and reduced hydrophilic groups in the carbon aerogel. This is also the first development of carbon aerogel derived from DESs modified CNF, with a promising application on oil/water separation.

Ion and electron-conducting additive effect on Li-ion charge storage performance of CuFe2O4/SiO2 composite aerogel anode

Series of Li2O loaded CuFe2O4/SiO2 composite aerogels were prepared using a sol-gel process followed by a supercritical drying method. The physical and chemical properties of as-prepared aerogels were studied using different characterization techniques. Based on alternating current (AC) impedance analysis, the best conducting 5 wt% Li2O loaded CuFe2O4/SiO2 composite aerogel with conductivity σ = 2.4 × 10−9 S cm−1 is studied as anode for lithium-ion battery application. The best conducting composite aerogel provides a reversible Li-storage capacity of 605 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 current density, which is more than the three-fold improved specific capacity of CuFe2O4/SiO2 having 182 mA h g−1. The addition of Li2O increases the charge carrier concentration and mobility of lithium-ions in the CuFe2O4/SiO2 composite aerogel matrix. Further, the Li-storage performance of 5 wt% Li2O loaded CuFe2O4/SiO2 composite aerogel is improved by increasing the electron-conducting super-P carbon (SPC) blending ratio from 70: 20: 10 to 40: 50: 10 between active material: SPC: binder during electrode preparation. It delivers a reversible specific capacity of 880 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 current density, and it reaches 98% coulombic efficiency over 50-cycles. The specific capacity and cyclability of Li2O loaded CuFe2O4/SiO2 aerogel are highly dependent on electrical conductivity. The improved electrochemical performance of CuFe2O4/SiO2 aerogel is obtained through the combined effects of Li-ion concentration (Li2O addition) as well as electron conducting (SPC) carbon additives.

Methylcellulose strengthened polyimide aerogels with excellent oil/water separation performance

Polyimide (PI) aerogels have great potential in oil/water separation field, but the extreme volume shrinkage during the fabrication still remains challenging. Herein, a simple yet efficient strategy of incorporating methylcellulose (MC) in PI aerogels is proposed. The MC/PI composite aerogels were fabricated by freeze-drying plus thermal imidization with subsequent trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) functionalization. The results revealed that MC entered the skeleton of aerogels and strengthened it effectively by promoting the formation of robust and complete 3D porous structure, and the defects of as-prepared aerogels were eliminated when the proportion of MC was beyond 10 wt%. After modification with TMCS, the water contact angle of aerogels increased significantly by 30°–40°, and the functionalized aerogels showed excellent oil absorption capacity up to 28.44 g/g. The outstanding oil absorbency and simple process for separating oil and water with MC/PI composite aerogels are promising candidates in the field of oil/water separation.

Multiscale nanocelluloses hybrid aerogels for thermal insulation: The study on mechanical and thermal properties

Herein, multiscale nanocelluloses (NCs) were prepared and blended with fumed silica and organosilane to fabricate freeze-dried aerogels in various combinations. The cooperation of multiscale raw materials optimized the porous structures of aerogels, thus improving the thermal insulation properties. The use of NCs with different characteristics endowed the resultant aerogels with distinct mechanical performance. The addition of high-aspect-ratio NCs in the composite aerogels was essential for improving the bendability. Furthermore, lower-aspect-ratio NCs helped to resist the compression deformation of the cross-linked aerogels. The functional groups on NCs made a difference in the thermal stability of the as-prepared aerogels. However, after treating at 150–350 ℃, the aerogels could maintain structural integrity and high elastic recovery rate, possessing ultralow density (7.2 kg/m3) and thermal conductivity (25.4 mW m−1 K−1). The outstanding thermal properties and controllable mechanical performance make these aerogels potential candidates in different fields such as textile and building industries.

Humidity sensitive cellulose composite aerogels with enhanced mechanical performance

It is a long-standing issue to develop conductive polymer composites as humidity sensor with rapid response, high reproducibility and good long-term stability. Herein, a simple, efficient, and environmentally benign strategy was proposed to fabricate highly porous, robust and conductive cellulose composite aerogels. Owing to the intrinsic high specific surface area and well-defined electrically conductive network, the as-prepared cellulose composite aerogels were highly sensitive to water vapor with a relative resistance response value of as high as ~ 1000% at a CNT loading of 0.19 vol%. The dense hydrogen bonding network endowed high reproducibility and good long-term stability to cellulose composite aerogels. Moreover, a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of cellulose composite aerogels was achieved, outperforming neat cellulose aerogel with the increments of ~ 149.2% and ~ 242.1% in compressive strength and modulus, respectively. The green, robust, highly sensitive cellulose composite aerogels are in great potential need as humidity sensors in biology and automated industrial processes.