An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu,
Dana-Ionela Tudorache,
Maria Bocioagă,
Dan Eduard Mihaiescu,
Tony Hadibarata,
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Affiliations
Adelina-Gabriela Niculescu
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, University of Bucharest, 050657 Bucharest, Romania
Dana-Ionela Tudorache
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu St. 1-7, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Maria Bocioagă
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu St. 1-7, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Dan Eduard Mihaiescu
Department of Organic Chemistry, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Tony Hadibarata
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu St. 1-7, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, University of Bucharest, 050657 Bucharest, Romania
Silica aerogels have gained much interest due to their unique properties, such as being the lightest solid material, having small pore sizes, high porosity, and ultralow thermal conductivity. Also, the advancements in synthesis methods have enabled the creation of silica aerogel-based composites in combination with different materials, for example, polymers, metals, and carbon-based structures. These new silica-based materials combine the properties of silica with the other materials to create a new and reinforced architecture with significantly valuable uses in different fields. Therefore, the importance of silica aerogels has been emphasized by presenting their properties, synthesis process, composites, and numerous applications, offering an updated background for further research in this interdisciplinary domain.
