Transparent thermal insulation ceramic aerogel materials for solar thermal conversion

An, Lu; Li, Zheng; Guo, Zipeng; Hu, Yong; Huang, Yulong; Armstrong, Jason N.; Zhou, Chi; Ren, Shenqiang

doi:10.1039/d2na00412g

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 29 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…However, the aerogels prepared through several experiments have not been able to simultaneously meet the requirements of high transmittance and low thermal conductivity. Additionally, these aerogels have poor mechanical properties and insufficient flexibility, which limits their practical application. − Efficiently collecting solar energy is crucial to reduce heat loss and improve solar energy utilization. Thus, developing advanced and convenient methods for this purpose is significant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Sun

Zhuo

Zhang

2023

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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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.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Sun

Zhuo

Zhang

2023

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Transparent Silica Aerogels: Optical and Chemical Design, Controlled Synthesis, and Emerging Applications

Xie,

Wang,

et al. 2024

Chemistry An Asian Journal

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Transparent silica aerogel, serving as one typical porous and transparent material, possesses various unique features (e.g., large amounts of pores and interfaces, super‐lightweight, super thermal insulation, low refractive index similar to gas), and it has attracted great attention in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and others. Transparency is one important evaluation index of transparent silica aerogel, and it was influenced by various factors such as raw materials, sol‐gel reactions, phase separation, and drying methods. The structure design and fabrication of transparent silica aerogel is one huge and fine engineering. In this review, the optical/chemical guidance and design for the preparation of transparent silica aerogels are discussed, and typical applications, such as Cherenkov detectors, solar energy collection, lighting systems, and transparent fabric, also were discussed. Finally, a future outlook on the opportunities and challenges of transparent silica aerogels was proposed.

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Effects of Moisture Content on the Radiative Properties and Energy-Saving Performance of Silica Aerogel Windows

Du,

Yang,

Huang

et al. 2024

Langmuir

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The thermal insulation performance of windows is crucial for energy-efficient buildings. Windows are typically the weakest part of the building envelope, regarding thermal insulation. Due to its excellent thermal insulation and high transparency, silica aerogel shows great promise as a window material. However, moisture can impact the effectiveness of the aerogel, leading to poor visibility and reduced thermal insulation. This study simulated a silica aerogel with varying moisture levels using the combination of diffusion-limited cluster aggregation, discrete dipole approximation, and Monte Carlo methods. The effects of the moisture content, thickness, porosity, and particle size on thermal conductivity, solar transmittance, and haze were analyzed. Visual properties of the aerogels were also considered. The energy consumption of a 30 m2 room under different climates was simulated using TRNSYS to assess the energy-saving potential of silica aerogel glass. The findings indicate that a higher moisture content leads to decreased solar transmittance and increased thermal conductivity of aerogels. Silica aerogel glass is more energy efficient than single-layer float glass, with the dry aerogel performing better in cold climates but worse in hot climates. This study provides insights for designing aerogel glass that optimizes solar transmittance and thermal insulation to enhance building comfort and energy efficiency.

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Transparent thermal insulation ceramic aerogel materials for solar thermal conversion

Abstract: Thermal management in energy-efficient solar thermal energy conversion and transparent windows requires advanced materials with low thermal conductivity and high transparency, such as transparent silica aerogel materials. However, the large...

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 publications

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

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

Transparent Silica Aerogels: Optical and Chemical Design, Controlled Synthesis, and Emerging Applications

Effects of Moisture Content on the Radiative Properties and Energy-Saving Performance of Silica Aerogel Windows

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