writer：Youxian Yan, Fang Ge, Yu Qin, Mengya Ruan, Zeyong Guo, Chuanxin He, Zhongkai Wang
keywords：Nanochitin, Self-assembly, Aerogel, Mechanical robust, Thermal insulation
source：期刊
specific source：https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116755
Issue time：2020年
The development of lightweight, strong and high-performance thermal insulators from renewable biomass are highly desired for sustainable development. Here, ultralight aerogels based on renewable nanochitin with outstanding mechanical properties, excellent water-resistant, and promising thermal insulation properties are fabricated. The pristine nanochitin aerogels (PNCAs) assembled from mechanically strong carboxylated chitin nanorods are firstly prepared through acid-induced gelation and supercritical drying. The resultant PNCAs present tunable density (10?50 mg/cm3) and strong mechanical stiffness (the specific compression modulus of 30.2 MPa cm3/g) combining with low thermal conductivity (27.2 mW/m K). After a facile silylation mod- ification, the silylated nanochitin aerogels (SNCAs) exhibit hydrophobic behavior (contact angle > 130°), im- proved compression performance (the specific compression modulus of 65 MPa cm3/g), and promising thermal insulation property (30.5–35.8 mW/m K). Moreover, the silylated aerogel shows a negligible loss of mechanical performance when exposed to water for 12 h at 35 °C.