Bioinspired Multifunctional Flexible C-SiC Fibrous Aerogel for Superior Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Under...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomimetics

Background:

• High-performance aerogels with thermal insulation and electromagnetic shielding are crucial for advanced technologies.
• Existing carbon-based aerogels face limitations in manufacturing complexity and oxidation resistance (<500°C).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective and scalable method for creating advanced aerogels with enhanced properties.
• To design a biomimetic C-SiC fibrous aerogel inspired by Momordica charantia for superior thermal and electromagnetic performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized polysiloxane and polyacrylonitrile as precursors for a biomimetic aerogel.
• Employed centrifugal spinning and high-temperature sintering to fabricate the C-SiC fibers.
• Mimicked the Momordica charantia structure to create hierarchical pores and surface protrusions.

Main Results:

• Achieved an ultralow density of 3.9 mg cm⁻³ and exceptionally low thermal conductivity (9.12 mW m⁻¹ K⁻¹).
• Demonstrated ultrahigh specific electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (346,828.6 dB cm² g⁻¹).
• Exhibited excellent compressibility, resilience, acid-alkali resistance, and high-temperature stability up to 2000°C, with oxidation resistance at 1000°C.

Conclusions:

• A scalable and cost-effective biomimetic strategy for fabricating high-performance fibrous aerogels was successfully developed.
• The C-SiC aerogel presents a promising next-generation material for integrated structure-function applications.
• Potential applications include aerospace thermal protection and other extreme high-temperature environments.