Ultralight and compressive SiC nanowires aerogel for high-temperature thermal insulation

Aerogels with excellent properties combination of ultralow density and great thermal insulation are drawing attention to applications in harsh conditions. Common aerogels, however, are usually constructed with nanoparticles with a weakness in physical combination. The silicon carbide nanowire (SiC NW ) is a kind of one-dimensional (1D) nanowire possessing the promising properties of flexibility, great thermal insulation, and stability at high temperatures. An aerogel constructed by the SiC NW will produce a great material with a promising material, the amazing SiC NW aerogel. Here, a novel SiC NW aerogel was fabricated consisting of quantities of β-SiC NW of 15–40 nm in diameter and tens to hundreds of micrometers in length. This SiC NW aerogel possessed an ultralow density of 5.82 mg·cm –3 , high-temperature resistance, and great thermal insulation with its thermal conductivities of 0.063 W·m –1 ·K –1 at 100 °C and 0.243 W·m –1 ·K –1 at 900 °C in He. Furthermore, the thermal insulation applicability of this aerogel was simulated. This study provides a promising way for designing and fabricating other multifunctional nanowire aerogels for high-temperature thermal insulation. Graphical Abstract