Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogels are coated with thin conformal layers of Al2O3 using atomic layer deposition to form hybrid organic/inorganic nanocomposites. Electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the Al2O3 penetrated more than 1500 lm into the aerogel for extended precursor pulse and exposure/purge times. The measured profile of coated fiber radiu...

Hyperpolarized He is used to nondestructively probe by NMR the structure of custom-made and commercial silica aerogels (97% and 98.5% porous). Large spin-echo signals are obtained at room temperature and very low magnetic field (2 mT) even with small amounts of gas. Attenuation induced by applied field gradients results from the combined effects of gas diffusion and confinement by the porous me...

The creep behavior of nanocellulose films and aerogels are studied in a dynamic moisture environment, which is crucial to their performance in packaging applications. For these materials, the creep rate under cyclic humidity conditions exceeds any constant humidity creep rate within the cycling range, a phenomenon known as mechanosorptive creep. By varying the sample thickness and relative humi...

We describe the simple preparation of nitrocellulose gels and high surface area (300 + m(2) g(-1)) aerogels and their hierarchical pore structures. The solvent in which the gels form greatly influences the pore geometry and size distribution of the gels in both the macro- and mesopore domains.

The purpose of the study is preparation silica aerogels by using hydro(solvo)thermal synthesis assisted sol-gel method, SiO2 particle-added aerogels, and investigation their potential use in environment energy fields. It has been observed that prepared can be used as an adsorbent for organic contaminant removal applications. progressed rapidly reaction NaBH4 with methanol particle embedded aero...

Hydrogels and aerogels are two typical families of gels, classified according to the medium they encompass, that is, water and air, respectively. Hydrogels have not only pervaded our everyday life in a variety of forms (e.g., fruit jellies, toothpaste, contact lenses, and hair gel), but have also been extensively explored as functional soft materials for use in various scientific fields. Replac...

The efficiency of Co(II)-, Mn(II)-, and Ti(IV)-doped carbon aerogels for the transformation of ozone into (*)OH radicals was investigated. The carbon aerogels had a markedly acid surface character (pH(PZC approximately equal) congruent with 3-4) with very high surface oxygen concentrations (O approximately equal with 20%). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of the samples showed th...