SiO 2 /SiC Composite Aerogels: Controlled Fabrication, Structure–Property Relationships, and Multifunctional Applications

ABSTRACT SiO 2 /SiC composite aerogels are a novel multifunctional nanoporous material that combine the excellent thermal insulation properties, high porosity, and low density of SiO 2 aerogels with the superior mechanical properties and high‐temperature stability of SiC. This effectively overcome the limitations of traditional SiO 2 aerogels, such as brittleness and structural collapse at elevated temperatures. This paper systematically reviews preparation strategies for SiO 2 /SiC composite aerogels, including sol‐gel, carbothermic reduction, cryogenic casting, chemical vapor deposition, and electrospinning techniques. It analyzes the effects of different methods on the material's microstructure, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and microwave absorption characteristics, and explores the broad applications of SiO 2 /SiC composite aerogels in high‐temperature thermal insulation, electromagnetic wave absorption, catalyst supports, and adsorption separation. Finally, challenges and future research directions for SiO 2 /SiC composite aerogels are evaluated to advance their engineering applications.