A robust heat-insulating organic–inorganic hybrid aerogel with a green preparation strategy inspired by diatoms

Abstract

Organic–inorganic composite aerogels represent a novel class of materials that effectively combine the advantages of both organic and inorganic components. Polybenzoxazine (PBz) has emerged as a promising organic alternative due to its structural rigidity, thermal stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, achieving efficient compatibility between PBz and inorganic components remains a significant challenge. In this study, inspired by the structure of diatoms, tannic acid (TA) was introduced as a compatibilizer to stabilize the dispersion of inorganic silica precursors within a PBz solution and improve their compatibility. A uniform structure with minimal phase separation was achieved through a two-step catalytic copolymerization method at room temperature. Benefiting from the inherent rigidity of PBz and superior thermal stability of polysiloxane, the resulting polybenzoxazine/silicon hybridized aerogel (BSA) exhibits a low thermal conductivity of 0.0487 W m−1 K−1, a high compressive strength exceeding 20.0 MPa, and outstanding thermal degradation stability (Td5 of 389.75 °C). This biomimetic and environmentally sustainable approach holds significant potential for advancing the development of next-generation thermal insulation materials.

Graphical abstract: A robust heat-insulating organic–inorganic hybrid aerogel with a green preparation strategy inspired by diatoms

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Feb 2025
Accepted
19 May 2025
First published
05 Jun 2025

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, Advance Article

A robust heat-insulating organic–inorganic hybrid aerogel with a green preparation strategy inspired by diatoms

Z. Hua, Z. Wei, M. Liu, F. Guo, T. You, Z. Song, Z. Wang, Y. Huang, L. Liu and M. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5TA01413A

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