Polyvinyl alcohol-cellulose nanofibrils-graphene oxide hybrid organic aerogels

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Jul 10;5(13):5969-75. doi: 10.1021/am400171y. Epub 2013 Jun 24.

Abstract

Hybrid organic aerogels consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and graphene oxide nanosheets (GONSs) were prepared using an environmentally friendly freeze-drying process. The material properties of these fabricated aerogels were measured and analyzed using various characterization techniques including compression testing, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and contact angle measurements. These environmentally friendly, biobased hybrid organic aerogels exhibited a series of desirable properties including a high specific compressive strength and compressive failure strain, ultralow density and thermal conductivity, good thermal stability, and moisture resistance, making them potentially useful for a broad range of applications including thermal insulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.