Mesoporous composite gels an aerogels

A mesoporous composite produced by a method comprising the steps of:

• adding a sol to a volume of particulates such that said sol perfuses said volume of particulates within about one-half hour before the onset of gelation, thereby forming a mixture;
• gelling said mixture to form a fully gelled composite mixture in which particles of said particulate are incorporated in a network of a gelled sol, wherein said gelled sol comprises said network and liquid-filled pores;
• and
• drying said gelled composite mixture without substantially collapsing said pores to form a composite aerogel in which said particles of said particulate are incorporated in said network.

A method of making a composite aerogel, comprising the steps of:

• commingling a colloidally suspended, powdered, or dispersed particulate with a sol within about 30 minutes of the onset of gelation of said sol, to form a mixture;
• gelling said mixture to form a fully gelled composite mixture in which particles of said particulate are incorporated in a network of a gelled sol, wherein said gelled sol comprises said network and liquid-filled pores;
• and
• drying said gelled composite mixture without substantially collapsing said pores to form a composite aerogel in which said particles of said particulate are incorporated in said network.