Aerogel: The Multifunctional Wonder Material Revolutionizing Industries

Aerogel, a cutting-edge material, is transforming industries with its remarkable properties and wide-ranging applications. Featuring high specific surface area, high porosity, and a unique microstructure, it offers exceptional chemical stability, ultra-low thermal conductivity, high-temperature resistance, and a long lifespan. In recent years, scientists from China, the US, Europe, and beyond have developed innovative aerogels, including biomass-based varieties, through advanced preparation techniques.

Lightweight Marvel

Aerogel is astonishingly light—so much so that a piece can rest on a flower stamen without bending it. Today’s aerogels range from soft to rigid, conductive to insulating, finding uses across numerous sectors.

Superior Thermal Insulation

With the lowest known thermal conductivity and density among solid materials, aerogel has earned the title “king of thermal insulation.” It is widely applied in aerospace, petrochemical, and industrial sectors—for example, in the “Tianwen-1” probe, Mars rover, “Long March 5” Y4 rocket, and “Chang’e-4” lander. Following China’s “dual-carbon” goal, its applications have expanded rapidly.

In the Xinxiang Steam Pipeline Project (Henan), nano-aerogel composites boosted thermal performance 2-5 times over traditional materials, improving efficiency while reducing costs.

Diverse Properties

Composed of up to 99% air, aerogel offers high elasticity, strong adsorption, waterproofing, and a broad operating temperature range. Its pores, 20–50 nm in size, hinder airflow and minimize heat transfer, enhancing insulation.

Types of Aerogel

Three main types exist:

• Inorganic: elemental, oxide, and sulfide aerogels
• Organic: phenolic, cellulose, polyimide, chitosan, and hybrids
• Organic-inorganic hybrids: combining strengths for specialized functions

Science magazine listed aerogel among 2021’s top ten scientific breakthroughs—the only one already widely commercialized.

Preparation & Cost

Aerogel production involves sol-gel formation followed by specialized drying to replace liquids with gas. Manufacturing accounts for about 45% of costs. Automated production lines are seen as key to lowering costs and expanding applications.

Biomass-based Aerogels – A New Hotspot

In 350 °C steam pipelines, aerogel insulation can cut thickness by two-thirds, save 40%+ energy, and reduce CO₂ emissions by 125 tons/km annually. In 2021, demand was led by oil & gas (56%), industrial insulation (18%), construction (9%), and transport (8%). Biomass-based aerogels, made from abundant, low-cost, eco-friendly raw materials, show strong potential in sustainable manufacturing.

Examples include:

• Cellulose aerogels from USTC: super-elastic, fatigue-resistant, and effective in harsh environments
• Lignocellulose aerogels from CAF: biodegradable, renewable, with outstanding oil-absorption and space-saving features

Policy Support & Challenges

China’s policies have promoted aerogel since 2014, including national standards and technical guidelines. However, challenges remain: increased thermal conductivity at high temperatures, weak adhesion to fiber matrices, environmental impact from solvents, recycling difficulties, and high costs.

Future Outlook

Research will focus on cellulose, graphene, perovskite, and elemental aerogels. With ongoing innovation, aerogel’s role in fire-resistant, waterproof, thermally insulating, and sound-proof solutions will only grow.