Ultra-Light Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Hydrogels: Light Weight Water Materials for Passive Thermal Management via Insulation and Cooling.

ABSTRACT: Water, despite its abundance, high heat capacity, and environmental benignity, has long been constrained by its intrinsic density (~ 1.0 g cm^-3) and fluidic nature, which limit its use as a lightweight, structurally stable material above the freezing point. Reconfiguring water into an ultra-light yet solid-like form while retaining its inherent thermal and optical advantages is therefore of great significance for next-generation cooling technologies that demand low mass, portability, and sustainability. Herein, we report an ultra-light hydrogel based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), in which hollow foaming microspheres are incorporated to create ultra-low-density water materials. By confining water within this composite network, the hydrogel achieves a record-low density of 0.041

SUBMITTER: Hu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847538 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature