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Synthesis of light weight, high strength biomass-derived composite aerogels with low thermal conductivities

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Abstract

Aerogels that are very porous, mechanically tough, and have low thermal conductivities have attracted significant research interest due to their potential use in engineering applications. Herein, we describe the preparation of biomass-derived composite aerogels containing agar, chitosan (CS), esterified cellulose nanocrystals (ECNCs), and graphene using an environmentally friendly ice-templating method. The prepared composite aerogels have high porosities (> 97%) and low densities (3.1–4.3 kg/m3). FESEM images of these aerogels reveal interconnected honeycomb-like structures several micrometers in size. The thermal conductivity of the ECNCs/CS/agar aerogel was found to be 21 mW/m K, which is close to the thermal conductivity of air under ambient conditions (25.4 mW/m K). The ECNCs/CS/agar aerogel exhibited a stress of 210 kPa, which is about 500% higher than that of the CS/agar aerogel. The compressive strength of the graphene/ECNCs/CS/agar aerogel increased from 210 to 580 kPa (a factor of 2.8) as the graphene content was increased from 0 to 1.3%. Furthermore, the composite aerogels are flexible and compressible, and are candidates for practical applications such as insulating materials.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the generous financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31870561), the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China (Grant No. 2016J01088), Chemicals and Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University (Grant No. xjq201422) and Plan for the training of Outstanding Young Scientific Research Personnel in higher education institutions of Fujian Province (selected in 2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jinshan College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, No. 15 Shangxiadian Road, Cangshan District, Fuzhou City, 350002, Fujian Province, China

    Lirong Tang

  2. College of Material Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, No. 63 Xiyuangong Road, Minhou, Fuzhou City, 350108, Fujian Province, China

    Lirong Tang, Senyang Zhuang, Biyun Hong, Zhenghan Cai, Yandan Chen & Biao Huang

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  1. Lirong Tang
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Correspondence to Lirong Tang or Biao Huang.

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Tang, L., Zhuang, S., Hong, B. et al. Synthesis of light weight, high strength biomass-derived composite aerogels with low thermal conductivities. Cellulose 26, 8699–8712 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02704-6

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