Transparent and Flexible Hierarchical Porous Structure of Polyvinyl Alcohol Aerogel: A Microstructure Study.

ABSTRACT: Aerogels have gained increasing attention due to their unique properties since their introduction in 1932. Silica aerogel, one of the earliest and most advanced types, is known for its high transparency and excellent thermal insulation. However, its internal pearl-like structure makes it extremely brittle, which limits its practical applications. To address this, through multiple refinements in formulation and production techniques, we developed a novel Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) aerogel using an innovative one-step standing method. This method significantly reduces the gelling time compared to the freeze-thaw method and eliminates the need for refrigeration, making it a more environmentally friendly and sustainable process. The resulting one-step standing PVA aerogel features a hierarchical

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11547625 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature