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Cited by 132Aerogels and thermal insulationAdvanced ceramic materials synthesisMesoporous Materials and Catalysis

An overview on alumina-silica-based aerogels

Almeida, Cláudio M.R., Ghica, Mariana E., Durães, Luísa·2020·Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
DOI 10.1016/j.cis.2020.102189
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Abstract

Silica aerogels are remarkable materials with excellent physicochemical properties, such as high porosity and surface area, along with low density and thermal conductivity. In addition to their outstanding properties, these materials are quite interesting due to the possibility to change their chemistry according to intended applications. However, they also show some disadvantages, like low mechanical strength and poor dimensional stability under high temperatures (above 600 °C). Although these aerogels are frequently used as thermal insulators, for high temperature environments some of their properties need to be improved. The mixing with other ceramic thermally resistant phases is a viable approach. Thus, this work presents an overview on alumina-silica-based aerogels, describing their synthesis, processing and properties. The improvement on their properties will be discussed as a function of the amount of refractory phase (alumina) in the silica matrix. The introduction of the alumina phase makes them stable until 1200-1400 °C, maintaining low values of thermal conductivity at very high temperature (below 81 mW m-1 K-1). Finally, a brief survey on the most promising applications of these materials is presented, with several examples. In catalysis, alumina-silica aerogels have shown equivalent performance when compared to reference catalysts. In the field of thermal insulation, these materials show great potential, especially in high temperatures environments, due to their thermal dimensional stability and inherent low thermal conductivity. As adsorbents, higher stability and adsorption capacity were obtained with the incorporation of the alumina phase in silica aerogels, and these materials can be reused for repeated adsorption/desorption cycles. Indeed, a significant improvement of the aerogel performance by the synergetic effect of combining silica and alumina phases is usually obtained, supporting the expectation of the extension of their fields of application.

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  • Aerogels have cross-linked nano-pores with sizes ranging from 5 to 100 nm and an average diameter of 20 to 40 nm.

    “They have solid particles with enduring characteristics like being ultra-lightweight and having nano-pores with cross-linking; these cross-linked pores have sizes ranging from 5 to 100 nm and an average diameter of 20 to 40 nm [5].”

    From Silica Aerogels as a Promising Vehicle for Effective Water Splitting for Hydrogen Production (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

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Authors
Almeida, C. M. R., Ghica, M. E., & Durães, L.
Affiliations
University of Coimbra (PT)
Corresponding author
Ghica, Mariana E.
ORCID
Venue
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-08
Volume
282
Pages
102189
ISSN
0001-8686 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.cis.2020.102189
OpenAlex
W3034281755
Cited by
132
References
144
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 4
FWCI
1.30
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Advances in Colloid and Interface Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Spectroscopy › Aerogels and thermal insulation
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Ceramics and Composites › Advanced ceramic materials synthesis
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Mesoporous Materials and Catalysis
Keywords
silica aerogel, refractory period, high-temperature insulation, thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, mechanical strength, aerogel synthesis, catalysis, adsorbents, adsorption-desorption cycles, synergistic effect

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