Methods of Making Permeable Aerogels
AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation
InventorsKrista Carlson, Alexander Reifsnyder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of making permeable aerogels (100) can include providing a sol mixture (110) comprising an organic scaffold, an inorganic aerogel precursor, and a first solvent. The organic scaffold can be insoluble in the first solvent. The sol mixture can react to form a gel (120) such that an interconnected channel network is formed which is at least partially defined by the organic scaffold. The first solvent in the gel can be exchanged (130) with a second solvent. The second solvent can dissolve the organic scaffold to expose the interconnected channel network. The gel can be dried (140) to form the permeable aerogel.
Claims27
A method of making a permeable aerogel, comprising:
- providing a sol mixture comprising an organic scaffold, an inorganic aerogel precursor, and a first solvent, wherein the organic scaffold is insoluble in the first solvent;
- reacting the sol mixture to form a gel such that an interconnected channel network is formed which is at least partially defined by the organic scaffold;
- exchanging the first solvent in the gel with a second solvent, wherein the second solvent dissolves at least a portion of the organic scaffold to expose the interconnected channel network;
- and
- drying the gel to form the permeable aerogel.
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A permeable aerogel comprising a continuous inorganic aerogel material surrounding an interconnected channel network, wherein the interconnected channels have an average diameter from 0.1 micrometer to 50 micrometers, further wherein at least one of:
- the interconnected channels have been formed by removing an organic scaffold and wherein interior surfaces of the interconnected channels are devoid of the organic scaffold and reaction products of the organic scaffold;
- the interconnected channels include a hierarchical porous structure including both micron-scale channels and nano-scale channels;
- and
- the aerogel includes organic groups and the aerogel is hydrophobic.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.