Highly Transparent, Temperature-Resistant, and Flexible Polyimide Aerogels for Solar Energy Collection

Abstract

Advanced aerogel materials with low thermal conductivity and high transparency have shown great application prospects in the solar thermal energy conversion field. However, most aerogels do not meet these requirements due to their low optical transparency and poor mechanical properties. To tackle this problem, we have created versatile polyimide (PI) aerogel materials by adjusting the monomers to alter their molecular structure. These materials exhibit exceptional thermal insulation properties and high transparency, making them ideal for use in the construction of efficient solar collector devices. Incorporating 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride into PI aerogel results in high strength (>3 MPa) and excellent transmittance (>90%) over a broad range of wavelengths (500–2650 nm). The as-prepared PI aerogel solar collector (PIASC) also exhibits a low thermal conductivity (0.032 W/mK), a low density (0.1 g/cm3), and high porosity (90%). By changing the shape of the collector from a flat plate to a cylindrical ring, the heat collection efficiency and capacity are significantly improved, resulting in efficient heat collection. The circular ring collector has a maximum heat collection temperature of 236.8 °C. The PIASC, which is both flexible and highly transparent, is an ideal candidate for advanced optical elements and solar collectors.

Preparation of hydrogels with self-reinforced mechanical properties using ball-milled microcrystalline cellulose and regenerated cellulose from deep eutectic solvent

“…The collapse of the pore structure makes the samples denser, leading to a sharp increase in stress at the same strain. 52 During cyclic compression, the compressive stress–strain curve of samples could not reach the 50% strain endpoint, showing obvious residual strains and delayed energy dissipation after unloading. This is linked to the high toughness of B-RCH- x %.…”

Adhesion and Transparency Enhancement between Flexible Polyimide-PDMS Copolymerized Film and Copper Foil for LED Transparent Screen

“…Its remarkable transparency for LED transparent screens can ensure near-complete transparency when the LED screen is inactive, without compromising the background view. Additionally, polyimide boasts excellent thermal stability [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], which is crucial for the prolonged stable operation of LED screens. The high temperature resistance of PI materials effectively prevents LED component fading or damage during operation.…”

Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composite Aerogel toward Lightweight, Remarkable Flame Retardancy, and Thermal Insulation Properties by Incorporating Carbon Nanohorns and Phytic Acid

“…Aerogels, often referred to as “frozen smoke” or “blue smoke”, represent a class of materials with exceptional properties that have garnered significant attention in recent years. These materials are characterized by an ultralow density, high porosity, and unique physical and chemical attributes, making their application in diverse fields, including aerospace, , oil spill recovery, , thermal insulation, , and biomedical engineering. , In recent years, many environmentally friendly aerogels based on poly­(vinyl chloride), , graphene and carbon nanotubes, , polyimides, , and cellulose nanofibers , have been developed using freeze-drying technology. Compared with supercritical CO 2 drying, which requires high operating pressures, freeze-drying is a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and feasible method for extracting solvents from wet gels without damaging the gel structure.…”