Reconstruction and functionalization of aerogels by controlling mesoscopic nucleation to greatly enhance macroscopic performance

This work presents a strategy for the mesoscopic engineering of hierarchically structured sodium alginate (SA) aerogels to enhance macroscopic performance. The was implemented by meso-functionalizing and reorganizing SA via controlled heterogeneous nucleation, in which microcrystalline cellulose-manganese dioxide (MCC-MnO 2 ) nano-crystallites worked as template. Due short rod-like structure abundant hydroxyl groups MCC-MnO , organized mesostructure reconstructed during assembly molecule chains, gave rise significant enhancement performance areogels. For instance, functionalized /SA acquired more than 70% increase mechanical strength with an excellent deformation recovery. Furthermore, almost double removal capacity metal ions (i.e., Cu 2+ Pb organic dyes congo red methylene blue) obtained MnO aerogels, 87% repossession pollutants after 5 operation cycles.