Reaction-Spun Transparent Silica Aerogel Fibers.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Fiber Engineering

Background:

• Aerogel fibers offer superior thermal insulation compared to conventional fibers.
• Fast gelation during spinning causes particle clustering, leading to nontransparent and nonuniform aerogel fibers.
• Achieving transparency in aerogel fibers remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for producing transparent silica aerogel fibers.
• To control the optical properties (transparency/opacity) of aerogel fibers.
• To enable advanced applications for aerogel fibers, particularly in wearables.

Main Methods:

• Reaction spinning technique that hampers Brownian motion during fiber formation.
• Utilizing concentrated ammonia for rapid gelation and fiber solidification.
• Controlling particle aggregation through pH-dependent hydrolysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced highly porous silica aerogel fibers with tunable transparency.
• Demonstrated control over optical properties via Rayleigh or Mie scattering by managing particle aggregation.
• The resulting fibers exhibit low density, high surface area, flexibility, and excellent thermal insulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed reaction spinning method overcomes limitations of traditional aerogel fiber production.
• Transparent silica aerogel fibers offer advanced thermal insulation and stability for wearable technology.
• Precise control over particle aggregation enables tailored optical properties for diverse applications.