Highly Porous Yet Transparent Mechanically Flexible Aerogels Realizing Solar-Thermal Regulatory Cooling

doi:10.1007/s40820-024-01356-x

Abstract

Abstract:

The demand for highly porous yet transparent aerogels with mechanical flexibility and solar-thermal dual-regulation for energy-saving windows is significant but challenging. Herein, a delaminated aerogel film (DAF) is fabricated through filtration-induced delaminated gelation and ambient drying. The delaminated gelation process involves the assembly of fluorinated cellulose nanofiber (FCNF) at the solid-liquid interface between the filter and the filtrate during filtration, resulting in the formation of lamellar FCNF hydrogels with strong intra-plane and weak interlayer hydrogen bonding. By exchanging the solvents from water to hexane, the hydrogen bonding in the FCNF hydrogel is further enhanced, enabling the formation of the DAF with intra-layer mesopores upon ambient drying. The resulting aerogel film is lightweight and ultra-flexible, which possesses desirable properties of high visible-light transmittance (91.0%), low thermal conductivity (33 mW m⁻¹ K⁻¹), and high atmospheric-window emissivity (90.1%). Furthermore, the DAF exhibits reduced surface energy and exceptional hydrophobicity due to the presence of fluorine-containing groups, enhancing its durability and UV resistance. Consequently, the DAF has demonstrated its potential as solar-thermal regulatory cooling window materials capable of simultaneously providing indoor lighting, thermal insulation, and daytime radiative cooling under direct sunlight. Significantly, the enclosed space protected by the DAF exhibits a temperature reduction of 2.6 °C compared to that shielded by conventional architectural glass.

Key words: Transparent aerogel, Cellulose nanofiber aerogel, Delaminated gelation, Thermal insulation, Passive daytime radiative cooling

Meng Lian, Wei Ding, Song Liu, Yufeng Wang, Tianyi Zhu, Yue-E. Miao, Chao Zhang, Tianxi Liu. Highly Porous Yet Transparent Mechanically Flexible Aerogels Realizing Solar-Thermal Regulatory Cooling[J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 131-.

Meng Lian, Wei Ding, Song Liu, Yufeng Wang, Tianyi Zhu, Yue-E. Miao, Chao Zhang, Tianxi Liu. [J]. Nano-Micro Letters, 2024, 16(1): 131-.

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URL: https://www.qk.sjtu.edu.cn/nml/EN/10.1007/s40820-024-01356-x

https://www.qk.sjtu.edu.cn/nml/EN/Y2024/V16/I1/131

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Preparation, flexibility and microstructures of the DAF. a Schematic of the fabrication procedure of DAF. b-d Photographs of DAF under, bending, knotting and twisting. Cross section FESEM images of DAF e, f before and g, h after tearing. i SEM image and element mappings (C, O, Si, F) of DAF

Fig. 2 Pore-forming mechanism of the DAF. a Schematic of the various procedures for the water removals in FFCNF hydrogel. b, c Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and pore size distributions of CF, CAF, DAF and samples by solvent exchange with propanol and hexane, respectively. d-g FESEM images of the torn locations of CF, CAF and samples by solvent exchange with propanol and hexane, respectively

Fig. 3 Mechanical, optical and thermal properties of the DAF. a-c Stress-strain curves, 2D SAXS patterns, and XRD patterns of CAF and DAF. d, e UV-vis-NIR full spectra and thermal conductivity of CF, CAF and DAF. f Thermographic images of CF, CAF and DAF on a 50 °C hot stage

Fig. 4 Spectral selectivity and radiative cooling power of the DAF. a Chemical groups of DAF and their infrared absorption peaks. b-d Absorbance, emission spectra, and calculated radiative power of DAF

Fig. 5 Solar-thermal dual-regulation of the DAF. a Schematic of the solar-thermal regulation of DAF. b Schematic of the apparatus for evaluating radiative cooling performance. c Temperature tracking of DAF and ambient air. d Temperature differences between the DAF and ambient air. e Temperatures monitoring for an artificial turf under direct sunlight conditions without and with the covering of glass, CF and DAF. f Thermographic images of the artificial turf after 2 h of sunlight exposure and removals of the covers

Fig. 6 Durability of the DAF. a Photograph of casting the drops of water, 1 M NaOH, oil, 1 M HCl, milk and coffee on DAF. b Self-cleaning tests conducted on DAF using water flux to remove pigments. c Contact angles measured for water, 1 M NaOH, oil, 1 M HCl, milk and coffee on FFCNF-AF. d Changes of contact angles of DAF measured throughout 0-30 h. e-g UV-vis-NIR, FTIR, and emissivity spectra of DAF at various aging time. h Temperature tracking and i temperature differences between the spaces covered by DAF being aged after various time and the ambient air

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