Lightweight and large-scale rGO reinforced SiBCN aerogels with hierarchical cellular structures exposed to high-temperature environments

SiBCN ceramic aerogel is an ideal potential candidate for ultra-high temperature thermal insulation due to its unique microscopic pore structure combined with the excellent thermal stability of SiBCN ceramic. Here, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) modified SiBCN aerogels (rGO/SiBCN) were prepared through solvothermal, freeze-casting and pyrolysis, and the dimension of the aerogel is up to Φ130 mm × 28 mm. The density of the rGO/SiBCN aerogel is as low as 0.024 g/cm3 and the microstructural regulation is achieved by controlling the rGO content in the aerogel. The hierarchical cellular structure endows the aerogel with a high specific surface area (148.6 m2/g) and low thermal conductivity (0.057 W m−1 K−1). The 10 mm-thick sample exhibits excellent thermal insulation and ablation resistance, as evidenced by its ability to reduce the temperature from ∼1100 °C to ∼180 °C under the intense heat of a butane flame. Moreover, benefiting from the ultrahigh-temperature stability of SiBCN, the rGO/SiBCN aerogel exhibits good thermal stability up to 1200 °C in argon and short-oxidation resistance at 800 °C in air. Therefore, the rGO/SiBCN aerogel with superior overall performance could expand its practical application in high-temperature thermal insulation under extreme environments.