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Ultralight nanofibre-assembled cellular aerogels with superelasticity and multifunctionality
Yang Si1, Jianyong Yu2, Xiaomin Tang3
1State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
Nature Communications
|December 17, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed novel fibrous, isotropically bonded elastic reconstructed (FIBER) nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs). These superelastic materials offer tunable densities and multifunctionality for diverse technological applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Developing highly compressible and resilient three-dimensional nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) is crucial for applications in electronics, bioengineering, and damping.
- Existing methods face challenges in producing NFAs with desired mechanical properties and structural integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel strategy for fabricating superelastic NFAs with a hierarchical cellular structure.
- To demonstrate the large-scale production of these advanced aerogels with tunable properties.
Main Methods:
- Combining electrospun nanofibers with a fibrous freeze-shaping technique.
- Utilizing a process that transforms lamellar nanofiber deposits into elastic bulk aerogels.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized fibrous, isotropically bonded elastic reconstructed (FIBER) NFAs with densities greater than 0.12 mg cm⁻³.
- Demonstrated superelasticity, rapid recovery from deformation, and efficient energy absorption.
- Highlighted multifunctionality including thermal insulation, sound absorption, emulsion separation, and elasticity-responsive electrical conduction.
Conclusions:
- The developed FIBER NFAs represent a significant advancement in aerogel technology, offering a unique combination of properties.
- This approach provides new insights for designing and developing multifunctional NFAs for a wide range of applications.
