Fabrication of ordered aerogel samples with different densities

摘要

A method is described that allows the synthesis of denser samples of a nematically ordered aerogel from commercial Nafen with the effective density of 72 mg/cm(3). The method is based on the drying of Nafen pre-immersed in a liquid (water, ethanol, pentane, or liquid nitrogen). The density of the final product is measured as a function of the surface-tension coefficient of the liquid filling the sample.