Aerogel Composites

Our research group has carried out systematic research on aerogel functional composites and realized the controllable construction of various aerogel composites, including polymer composite aerogels, nanofiber aerogels, aerogel fibers/fabrics and carbon aerogels. We also explored their applications in the fields of thermal insulation, flame retardant, intelligent thermal management, electromagnetic shielding and energy storage to develop high-performance and multifunctional aerogel composite systems.

1. Lightweight and thermal-insulating polymer aerogels

In view of the problems of poor formability, high shrinkage, uncontrollable pore structure and low strength of aerogel materials, our research group innovatively proposed a new strategy for controllable construction and pore regulation of three-dimensional polymer aerogels. Lightweight, high-strength and flexible polyimide aerogel composites with excellent thermal insulation and flame retardancy have been prepared and studied.

2. Aerogel fibers/textiles for thermal management

Aiming at problems such as difficult formability and poor mechanical strength of aerogel fibers, our research group innovatively proposed new fiber forming strategies such as "wet-freezing spinning" and "UV-assisted rapid gelation", to obtain lightweight, high-strength and thermal-insulating polymer composite aerogel fibers. Moreover, the polymer composite aerogel fiber/fabric can be further functionalized to construct new types of intelligent thermal management fabrics.

3. Aerogels for electromagnetic absorption

Aiming at the current problems of aerogel such as weak electromagnetic absorption capacity, narrow frequency band, single frequency band and poor anti-corrosion resistance, our research group innovatively proposed a new strategy of " Hierarchical self-assembly", and successfully obtained the composite aerogel material with Hierarchical impedance gradient structure and anti-corrosion resistant microwave absorption performance.

Representative publications：

1. H. L. Guo, J. Zhou, Q. Q. Li, Y. M. Li, W. Zong, J. X. Zhu, J. S. Xu, C. Zhang*, T. X. Liu*. Emerging dual-channel transition-metal-oxide quasiaerogels by self-embedded templating. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2020, 30, 2000024.

2. Y. J. Wang, Y. Cui, Z. Y. Shao, Wpublications. W. Gao, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu, H. Bai*. Multifunctional polyimide aerogel textile inspired by polar bear hair for thermoregulation in extreme environments. Chem. Eng. J. 2020, 390, 124623.

3. X. Zhang, X. Y. Zhao, T. T. Xue, F. Yang, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Bidirectional anisotropic polyimide/bacterial cellulose aerogels by freeze-drying for super-thermal insulation. Chem. Eng. J. 2020, 385, 123963.

4. X. Y. Zhao, F. Yang, Z. C. Wang, P. M. Ma, W. F. Dong, H. Q. Hou, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Mechanically strong and thermally insulating polyimide aerogels by homogeneity reinforcement of electrospun nanofibers. Compos. Part B 2020, 182, 107624.

5. H. L. Guo, Q. C. Feng, K. W. Xu, J. S. Xu, J. X. Zhu, C. Zhang*, T. X. Liu*. Self-templated conversion of metallogel into heterostructured TMP@carbon quasi-aerogels boosting bifunctional electrocatalysis. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019, 29, 1903660.

6. D. Wang, W. Fan*, S. J. Yuan, T. X. Liu*, Improving hierarchical porous structure of carbon aerogels for more efficient ion transport for supercapacitors with commercial level mass loading. Electrochim. Acta 2019, 323, 134811.

7. W. Fan, X. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. F. Zhang, T. X. Liu*. Lightweight, strong, and super-thermal insulating polyimide composite aerogels under high temperature. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2019, 173, 47-52.

8. Y. F. Zhang, W. Fan*, H. Y. Lu, T. X. Liu*, Highly porous polyimide-derived carbon aerogel as advanced three-dimensional framework of electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors, Electrochim. Acta 2018, 283, 1763-1772.

9. W. Fan, L. Z. Zuo, Y. F. Zhang, Y. Chen*, T. X. Liu*. Mechanically strong polyimide / carbon nanotube composite aerogels with controllable porous structure, Compos. Sci. Technol. 2018, 156, 186-191.

10. Z. C. Wang, R. B. Wei, J. W. Gu, et al. Ultralight, highly compressible and fire-retardant graphene aerogel with self-adjustable electromagnetic wave absorption. Carbon 2018, 139, 1126-1135.

11. Z. C. Wang, R. B. Wei, X. B. Liu. Fluffy and ordered graphene multilayer films with improved electromagnetic interference shielding over x-band. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017, 9, 22408-22419.

12. L. Z. Zuo, W. Fan*, Y. F. Zhang, L. S. Zhang, W. Gao, Y. P. Huang, T. X. Liu*. Graphene/montmorillonite hybrid synergistically reinforced polyimide composite aerogels with enhanced flame-retardant performance. Compos. Sci. Technol. 2017, 139, 57-63.

13. M. K. Liu, B. M. Liu, H. Zhou, C. Chen, Y. Q. Liu, T. X. Liu*. Extraordinary rate capability achieved by a 3D “skeleton/skin” carbon aerogel-polyaniline hybrid with vertically aligned pores. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 2810-2813.

14. L. Z. Zuo, Y. F. Zhang, Y. P. Huang, W. Gao, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Bacterial cellulose-based graphene-like carbon aerogels for in-situ growth of nickel sulfide as high performance electrode materials for supercapacitors. Nanoscale 2017, 9, 4445-4455.

15. Z. Sun, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Graphene/graphene nanoribbon aerogels as tunable three-dimensional framework for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. Electrochimica Acta 2017, 250, 91-98.

16. Y. F. Zhang, L. Z. Zuo, Y. P. Huang, L. S. Zhang, F. L. Lai, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Cotton wool derived carbon fiber aerogel supported few-layered MoSe₂ nanosheets as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. ACS Appl. Mater. & Interfaces 2016, 8, 7077-7085.

17. Y. F. Zhang, L. Z. Zuo, L. S. Zhang, J. J. Yan, H. Y. Lu, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. Immobilization of NiS nanoparticles on N-doped carbon fiber aerogels as advanced electrode materials for supercapacitors. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 2747-2759.

18. F. L. Lai, L. Z. Zuo, H. H. Gu, Y. E. Miao*, T. X. Liu*. Electrospun nanofiber-supported carbon aerogel as a versatile platform toward asymmetric supercapacitors. J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 15861-15869.

19. M. K. Liu, Z. B. Yang, H. Sun, C. Lai, X. S. Zhao, H. S. Peng*, T. X. Liu*. A hybrid carbon aerogel with both aligned and interconnected pores as interlayer for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 3735-3746.

20. Y. F. Zhang, L. Z. Zuo, Y. P. Huang, L. S. Zhang, F. L. Lai, W. Fan*, T. X. Liu*. In-situ growth of few-layered MoS₂ nanosheets on highly porous carbon aerogel as advanced electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2015, 3, 3140-3148.