One-step fabrication of transparent hydrophobic silica aerogels via in situ surface modification in drying process

摘要

We developed a novel method to facilely prepare transparent hydrophobic silica aerogels via in situ surface modification in drying process in one-step. The as-prepared silica aerogels were characterized by means of scanning electron microscope, transmittance electron microscope, nitrogen adsorption, and contact angle/interface system. In the process, methyltrimethoxysilane was used as the surface modification agent to modify wet gels simultaneously in the supercritical drying process without any solvent exchange. This was beneficial for the sufficient surface hydrophobic modification and time-effective as well as maintaining transparent pore structure of silica aerogels.