ENHANCED THERMAL INSULATION PROPERTIES OF SILICA AEROGELS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLICATIONS

In the quest for advanced materials with superior thermal insulation properties, silica aerogels have emerged as a promising candidate due to their ultra-low density, high porosity, and low thermal conductivity. This study focuses on the enhancement of thermal insulation properties of silica aerogels for energy-efficient applications, particularly in building insulation and industrial processes. We employed a sol-gel process combined with ambient pressure drying (APD) to synthesize silica aerogels with tailored pore structures and reduced thermal conductivity. A series of silica aerogels were prepared by varying key synthesis parameters, including precursor concentration, aging time, and surface modification techniques. The resulting aerogels were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET analysis), and thermal conductivity measurements. The study revealed that the pore size distribution and surface area of the aerogels could be effectively controlled, leading to significant reductions in thermal conductivity. Notably, the optimized aerogels achieved a thermal conductivity as low as 0.015 W/m·K, making them among the most efficient thermal insulators reported to date. In addition to their exceptional thermal properties, the mechanical strength and hydrophobicity of the aerogels were also enhanced through surface modification with organosilanes, ensuring durability and performance in harsh environments. The potential applications of these enhanced silica aerogels were explored in the context of energy-efficient building insulation, where they demonstrated a substantial reduction in heat loss compared to conventional insulation materials. The findings of this study highlight the potential of silica aerogels as a key material for the development of energy-efficient technologies. The synthesis process employed is scalable and environmentally friendly, making it suitable for industrial production. Future work will focus on further improving the mechanical properties and exploring hybrid aerogel composites for multifunctional applications.