Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking
Despite their high porosity and wide applicability, silica xerogels face mechanical strength limitations for high-performance applications. This study presents an ambient-pressure sol-gel strategy utilizing calcium-glycerol synergy to produce robust xerogels with enhanced properties. Physicochemical...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/462 |
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| author | Xiaoyu Xie Zilin Zhu Yu Meng Lijia Wang Fuquan Zhao Lingqing Chen Lijie Jiang Ming Yan Xiaofan Zhou |
| author_facet | Xiaoyu Xie Zilin Zhu Yu Meng Lijia Wang Fuquan Zhao Lingqing Chen Lijie Jiang Ming Yan Xiaofan Zhou |
| author_sort | Xiaoyu Xie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite their high porosity and wide applicability, silica xerogels face mechanical strength limitations for high-performance applications. This study presents an ambient-pressure sol-gel strategy utilizing calcium-glycerol synergy to produce robust xerogels with enhanced properties. Physicochemical analyses reveal that controlled Ca<sup>2+</sup> incorporation (optimal at 6 wt.%) accelerates gelation kinetics while establishing a hybrid network through ionic complexation and hydrogen bonding. The resulting xerogels achieve exceptional compressive strength (30.8 MPa) while maintaining uniform mesoporosity (50–90 nm pore size). Remarkably, the as-prepared silica xerogels demonstrate outstanding thermal insulation, maintaining a 220 °C temperature differential in 300 °C environments. These results prove that the ambient-pressure sol-gel strategy utilizing calcium-glycerol synergy can enhance the mechanical performance and thermal insulation performance of silica xerogels with the dual actions of Ca<sup>2+</sup>-induced network reinforcement via silanol coordination and glycerol-mediated stress relief during ambient drying. Overall, this work can offer a scalable, energy-efficient approach to produce high-performance silica xerogels with huge potential in building envelopes and aerospace systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-972103bc1cee4989bd3e10b81eb5b9eb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-972103bc1cee4989bd3e10b81eb5b9eb2025-08-20T03:27:02ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-06-0111646210.3390/gels11060462Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic CrosslinkingXiaoyu Xie0Zilin Zhu1Yu Meng2Lijia Wang3Fuquan Zhao4Lingqing Chen5Lijie Jiang6Ming Yan7Xiaofan Zhou8Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, National Engineering Research Center of Biomaterials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaJiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, National Engineering Research Center of Biomaterials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaZhejiang Jinchang Special Paper Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324000, ChinaZhejiang Jinchang Special Paper Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324000, ChinaJiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, National Engineering Research Center of Biomaterials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaSherwin-Williams South China Technology Center Co., Ltd., Foshan 528306, ChinaGuangdong Paper Industry Research Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510300, ChinaJiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, National Engineering Research Center of Biomaterials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaJiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, National Engineering Research Center of Biomaterials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaDespite their high porosity and wide applicability, silica xerogels face mechanical strength limitations for high-performance applications. This study presents an ambient-pressure sol-gel strategy utilizing calcium-glycerol synergy to produce robust xerogels with enhanced properties. Physicochemical analyses reveal that controlled Ca<sup>2+</sup> incorporation (optimal at 6 wt.%) accelerates gelation kinetics while establishing a hybrid network through ionic complexation and hydrogen bonding. The resulting xerogels achieve exceptional compressive strength (30.8 MPa) while maintaining uniform mesoporosity (50–90 nm pore size). Remarkably, the as-prepared silica xerogels demonstrate outstanding thermal insulation, maintaining a 220 °C temperature differential in 300 °C environments. These results prove that the ambient-pressure sol-gel strategy utilizing calcium-glycerol synergy can enhance the mechanical performance and thermal insulation performance of silica xerogels with the dual actions of Ca<sup>2+</sup>-induced network reinforcement via silanol coordination and glycerol-mediated stress relief during ambient drying. Overall, this work can offer a scalable, energy-efficient approach to produce high-performance silica xerogels with huge potential in building envelopes and aerospace systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/462silicon-calcium xerogelsol-gel processeshigh strengthatmospheric drying |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoyu Xie Zilin Zhu Yu Meng Lijia Wang Fuquan Zhao Lingqing Chen Lijie Jiang Ming Yan Xiaofan Zhou Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking Gels silicon-calcium xerogel sol-gel processes high strength atmospheric drying |
| title | Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking |
| title_full | Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking |
| title_fullStr | Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking |
| title_short | Ambient-Dried Silica Xerogels with Enhanced Strength and Thermal Insulation via Calcium Ion-Glycerol Synergistic Crosslinking |
| title_sort | ambient dried silica xerogels with enhanced strength and thermal insulation via calcium ion glycerol synergistic crosslinking |
| topic | silicon-calcium xerogel sol-gel processes high strength atmospheric drying |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/462 |
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