Aerogel, a kind of nano porous material known as "the lightest solid in the world" or "solidified smoke", is composed of air for more than 90% or even 99% of its internal volume. This unique structure makes it extremely low density, light enough to be placed on the petals without bending them, and even some aerogels can float in the air after vacuuming. Although its appearance is as illusory as smoke, it is a solid material with excellent performance. Its birth originated from the supercritical drying technology invented by scientist Kistler in 1931 to preserve the microstructure of gel.

The core characteristic of aerogel is its unparalleled heat insulation ability. Its nanoscale pore size is smaller than the average free path of air molecules, greatly suppressing heat conduction and convection, while also having a significant barrier effect on infrared thermal radiation. This enables an extremely thin layer of aerogel to achieve the thermal insulation effect of traditional heavy insulation materials, and the thermal conductivity can be as low as 0.012-0.024 W/(m · K). In addition to heat insulation, aerogel also has a very high specific surface area. The surface area of 1g aerogel can be equivalent to a football field, which gives it a strong adsorption capacity, which can efficiently absorb oil and harmful gases. In addition, it also has the characteristics of high porosity, good chemical stability, and strong hydrophobicity.

With these excellent performances, the application of aerogel has spread to many high-end and livelihood fields. In the aerospace field, it is used for thermal protection of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover, insulation layer of the probe, and capture of comet dust by the Stardust probe. In the field of new energy and industry, aerogel is a key material for lithium battery fireproof insulation sheet, hydrogen fuel cell insulation layer and industrial pipeline insulation, which can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. In the field of architecture and environmental protection, it is made into insulation boards, coatings for green buildings, or used as a hydrophobic material for cleaning up oil spills and air purification at sea. In recent years, the research and development of flexible and wearable aerogel has also opened up new prospects for its application in the field of personal thermal management and smart devices.

Despite its broad prospects, the large-scale application of aerogels still faces challenges. The traditional preparation process is expensive, and the materials generally have the disadvantages of high brittleness and poor mechanical properties. At present, researchers are committed to reducing costs, enhancing toughness and improving performance consistency through atmospheric drying technology, fiber composite modification, and the development of new routes such as biomass based, flexible silicone aerogels. With the innovation of preparation process and continuous optimization of cost, aerogel is moving from laboratory and extreme environment to a wider range of industrial and civil scenarios, and is expected to become one of the core materials to promote green and low-carbon transformation.

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