Manufacturing of hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogels
By heating and pyrolyzing silica gels with organic compounds at 200°C and drying them, the method produces hybrid silica aerogels with enhanced hydrophobic and thermal insulating properties, overcoming the limitations of existing silica aerogel manufacturing methods.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- HK62026124538
- Authority / Receiving Office
- HK · HK
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-30
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for manufacturing silica aerogels lack the ability to produce materials with both good hydrophobic and thermal insulating properties simultaneously.
A method involving heating a silica gel or organic silica gel containing an organic compound to at least 200°C to partially pyrolyze the organic compound, followed by drying the gel to produce hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogels with enhanced hydrophobic and thermal insulating properties.
The method results in the production of silica aerogels with improved hydrophobicity and thermal insulation, addressing the dual properties gap in existing manufacturing processes.
Abstract
Description
(19) State Intellectual Property Office (12) Invention Patent Application (10) Application Publication Number (43) Application Publication Date (21) Application Number 202480031363.3 (22) Application Date 2024.03.29 (30) Priority Data 23165520.0 2023.03.30 EP (85) PCT International Application Entering National Phase Date 2025.11.10 (86) PCT International Application Application Data PCT / EP2024 / 058776 2024.03.29 (87) PCT International Application Publication Data WO2024 / 200821 EN 2024.10.03 (71) Applicant: Airobel Private Limited Address: Henk, Belgium (72) Inventor: S. Depot (74) Patent Agency: Beijing Liu Shen Law Firm 11105 Patent Attorney: Song Li (51) Int.Cl. C01B 33 / 158 (2006.01) C01B 33 / 16 (2006.01) (54) Invention Title: Manufacturing of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Silica Aerogels (57) Abstract: This invention relates to the production of aerogels or dry gels. In particular, this invention relates to a method for manufacturing hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogels or dry gels having good hydrophobic and thermal insulating properties, comprising: heating a silica gel or organic silica gel containing an organic compound to at least 200°C, whereby the organic compound is at least partially pyrolyzed, and drying the gel. The invention also relates to aerogels or dry gels thus obtained. Claims: 2 pages Description: 26 pages CN 121127439 A 2025.12.12 CN 1 21 12 74 39 A
Claims
1. A method for making a hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogel or xerogel, the method comprising: heating the silica gel or organosilica gel comprising the organic compound to at least 200°C; whereby the heating comprises at least partially pyrolyzing the organic compound and drying the gel, wherein the at least partially pyrolyzing of the organic compound and the drying of the silica gel or organosilica gel are part of the same step, or the drying is performed after the pyrolyzing; and wherein the organic compound is a biomonomer, a biooligomer, a synthetic polymer, a biopolymer, or a mixture thereof.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the silica gel or organosilica gel comprises a silica network or organosilica network, a pore fluid, and the organic compound.
3. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the heating of the silica gel or organosilica gel is to at least 240°C, preferably to at least 300°C.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the heating of the silica gel or organosilica gel is to no more than 400°C.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the heating and drying of the silica gel or organosilica gel are part of the same step.
6. The method according to claim 5, comprising supercritically drying the silica gel or organosilica gel by heating the silica gel or organosilica gel to at least 200°C, preferably to at least 240°C, more preferably at least 300°C, and optionally to no more than 400°C.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the silica gel or organosilica gel comprises or has been prepared using one or more alkoxysilane, silanolate, alkali silicate, water glass, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate, metasilicate, organosilane, solution containing a silicon adduct, or a mixture thereof.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the biomonomer or biooligomer is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, amino acid, oligopeptide, glucosinolate, nucleotide, oligonucleotide, phenol, chrysal, indole-3-carbinol, serotonin, hydroxy fatty acid, and a mixture thereof.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the monosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, galactose, deoxyribose, dihydroxyacetone (glycerone), glyceraldehyde, erythrose, threose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, talose, mannopinose, sedopinose, and a mixture thereof.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the oligosaccharide comprises 2 to 10 monosaccharide units, and preferably wherein the oligosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of disaccharide, trisaccharide, tetrasaccharide, and a mixture thereof.
11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharide, polypeptide, polynucleotide, tannin, melanin, cutin, gum, latex, rubber, and a mixture thereof.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, nanocellulose, nanofibrillated cellulose, hemicellulose, xylan, lignin, lignin sulfonate, chitin, pectin, arabinoxylan, starch, glycogen, inulin, xanthan gum, guar gum, agar, agarose, alginate, chitosan, heparin, and mixtures thereof; preferably the polysaccharide is cellulose, nanocellulose, nanofibrillated cellulose, hemicellulose, and / or pectin.
13. The method according to any one of claims 1-12, wherein the synthetic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyimides, polyacrylamides, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polycyanurates, polyureas, polyurethanes, polyisocyanurates, polyaramides, polyesters, polyamines, polycarbonates, polyethers, polyols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol dialdehydes, polyvinyl esters, polyaldehydes, phenol formaldehyde (polymer / resin), resorcinol formaldehyde (polymer / resin), melamine formaldehyde (polymer / resin), cresol formaldehyde (polymer / resin), phenol furfuryl alcohol, polyepoxides (epoxy resins), and mixtures thereof.
14. The method according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the organic compound is uniformly distributed in the silica gel or organosilica gel, optionally wherein the organic compound is introduced into the silica gel or organosilica gel in solution or sol state.
15. The method according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein the weight percentage of the organic compound in the silica gel or organosilica gel is 0.001-20 wt%, preferably 0.01-10 wt%, more preferably 0.05-5 wt%, for example wherein the organic compound is introduced into the silica gel or organosilica gel in solution or sol state at 0.001-20 wt%, preferably 0.01-10 wt%, more preferably 0.05-5 wt% of the solution or sol.
16. The method of any one of claims 2-15, wherein the pore fluid comprises a liquid C02, an alcohol, an alkane, or an ether solvent, preferably an alkyl alcohol, an alkane, or an alkyl ether solvent, more preferably a C 1-18 alkyl alcohol, a C 1-18 alkane, or a C 1-18 alkyl ether solvent.
17. The method according to any one of claims 1-16, wherein at least part of the pyrolysis of the organic compound forms carbonaceous structures, and preferably wherein the carbonaceous structures provide the hydrophobicity and opacity of the hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogel or xerogel.
18. A hybrid organic-inorganic silica aerogel or xerogel obtainable by or by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, having: a surface contact angle of greater than 100°; optionally a thermal conductivity of less than 25 mW / m.K at 25 °C; optionally a 24 hour water absorption of less than 15%. - 20-100 F g -1 , preferably 50-200 F g -1 , preferably 100-300 F g -1 of specific capacitance; and / or - a mass extinction coefficient of 10-50 m 2 kg -1 , preferably 30-100 m 2 kg -1 , preferably higher than 100 m 2 kg -1