Nanoparticle–Loaded Aerogels and Layered Aerogels Cast from Sol–Gel Mixtures

Metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, or Pd) functionalized with hydroxy???terminated alkane thiols can be dispersed in sol???gel mixtures to give alcogels and, after supercritical drying, aerogels containing up to 90 wt% of nanoparticles. Layered or patterned nanoparticle/aerogel monoliths can be prepared by sequential casting or molding of the sol???gels.