Ultralight and compressive SiC nanowires aerogel for high-temperature thermal insulation

• Published in: Rare metals 2023-10, Vol.42 (10), p.3354-3363
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jun-Xiong, Zhang, Jing, Ye, Xin-Li, Ma, Xiao-Ming, Liu, Rong, Sun, Qi-Long, Zhou, Yun-Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerogels; Biomaterials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Density; Diameters; Energy; High temperature; Insulation; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Micrometers; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanowires; Original Article; Physical Chemistry; Silicon carbide; Temperature; Thermal insulation; Thermal resistance
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-023-02370-5

Aerogels with excellent properties combination of ultralow density and great thermal insulation are drawing attention to applications in harsh conditions. Common aerogels, however, are usually constructed with nanoparticles with a weakness in physical combination. The silicon carbide nanowire (SiC NW ) is a kind of one-dimensional (1D) nanowire possessing the promising properties of flexibility, great thermal insulation, and stability at high temperatures. An aerogel constructed by the SiC NW will produce a great material with a promising material, the amazing SiC NW aerogel. Here, a novel SiC NW aerogel was fabricated consisting of quantities of β-SiC NW of 15–40 nm in diameter and tens to hundreds of micrometers in length. This SiC NW aerogel possessed an ultralow density of 5.82 mg·cm –3 , high-temperature resistance, and great thermal insulation with its thermal conductivities of 0.063 W·m –1 ·K –1 at 100 °C and 0.243 W·m –1 ·K –1 at 900 °C in He. Furthermore, the thermal insulation applicability of this aerogel was simulated. This study provides a promising way for designing and fabricating other multifunctional nanowire aerogels for high-temperature thermal insulation. Graphical Abstract