Flexible mullite nanofiber membranes with high-temperature resistance and excellent thermal insulation

The increasing global energy consumption and carbon emissions propelled the demand for materials possessing excellent thermal insulation and fire resistance. In this study, we prepared mullite nanofiber membranes (MNFMs) by electrospinning using polyethylene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol as dual templates. This method endows MNFMs with good flexibility and overcomes the inherent brittleness of ceramic fibers. And ensure that it can maintain structural integrity even when bent or folded without fragmentation or crushing. Simultaneously, the prepared MNFMs exhibit a lightweight and fluffy porous structure (0.02195 g cm−3), showing a remarkably low thermal conductivity of 0.035 W m−1 K−1. Moreover, it demonstrates excellent high-temperature resistance, withstanding temperatures as high as 1300 °C, and exceptional thermal insulation. The unique combination of these characteristics qualifies the MNFMs for a wide range of applications, such as high-temperature insulation, fire resistance, high-temperature filtration, flexible electronics, and high-temperature protective clothing.