Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
10.3
6.4
Journals
Gels
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Aerogel and Aerogel Composites (2nd Edition)
share announcement

Recent Advances in Aerogel and Aerogel Composites (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1217

Editors

Dr. Mu Du

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Advanced Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, China
Interests: aerogel; radiative cooling; solar energy; thermal management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiaoke Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Interests: solar thermal utilization; energy conversion and transfer; desalination; interfacial evaporation; aerogel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aerogels, known for their ultralight structure and exceptional material properties, are at the forefront of material science innovation. The second edition of the Special Issue "Recent Advances in Aerogel and Aerogel Composites" in Gels still aims to explore the cutting-edge developments within this field. This issue will serve as a comprehensive platform for researchers and scientists to disseminate their findings on the novel synthesis, characterization, simulation, and applications of aerogel materials.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a wide array of topics. We invite contributions on subjects including, but not limited to, new methods in synthesis, simulation, structural design and functionalization, advances in hybrid aerogel composites, and breakthroughs in their mechanical, thermal, and acoustic properties. This issue seeks to delve into the innovative functionalization of aerogels, with the goal of unlocking their potential in various applications, such as catalysis, energy storage and conversion, thermal insulation, and environmental remediation.

Moreover, the Special Issue encourages submissions that report on the scalability of aerogel production, addressing the challenges associated with transitioning from laboratory-scale to industrial-scale manufacturing. Studies on the lifecycle assessment and environmental impact of aerogel production and utilization will also be a key aspect, aligning with the increasing demand for sustainable material solutions.

This issue aspires to serve as a nexus for academic and industrial researchers to share insights, foster collaborations, and push the boundaries of aerogel technology. Through this research collection, we aim to highlight the remarkable potential of aerogels and their composites, paving the way for their integration into next-generation materials and technologies.

Dr. Mu Du
Dr. Xiaoke Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aerogel
  • aerogel composites
  • simulation
  • reparation and characterization techniques
  • applications

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 3203 KB  
Article
A Synergistic Design Strategy for Gas Storage of Aerogels via Molecular Dynamics Insights into Pore and Surface Chemistry
by Lin Guo, Mu Du, Ying Yin and Gongming Xin
Gels 2026, 12(6), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12060509 - 8 Jun 2026
Viewed by 242
Abstract
The efficient adsorption and storage of gases within nanoporous materials are critical for technologies such as adsorbed natural gas systems and energy storage. A paramount goal is to maximize the adsorbent’s gas uptake capacity. However, the fundamental relationship between pore structure and adsorption [...] Read more.
The efficient adsorption and storage of gases within nanoporous materials are critical for technologies such as adsorbed natural gas systems and energy storage. A paramount goal is to maximize the adsorbent’s gas uptake capacity. However, the fundamental relationship between pore structure and adsorption performance in disordered aerogels remains unclear, hindering rational material design—specifically, where within the complex pore network adsorption predominantly occurs and how the pore size distribution (PSD) should be engineered to enhance capacity. To address this, we conduct molecular dynamics simulations investigating nitrogen adsorption in silica aerogels with tunable PSDs (achieved via tensile deformation) and varied gas–solid interaction strengths (ε). Our results reveal a kinetic-capacity trade-off: microporous-dominated structures saturate rapidly but have limited total uptake, whereas structures with developed mesoporosity (2–10 nm) achieve higher equilibrium capacity via capillary condensation, despite slower kinetics. The interaction strength ε is identified as a key factor governing both capacity and selectivity. Synthesizing these insights, we establish dual design guidelines: to maximize storage capacity, a hierarchical network combining micropores and interconnected mesopores is essential; for optimal reversible performance in cyclic applications like adsorbed natural gas, prioritizing open mesopores with moderately tuned surface chemistry is key. This work clarifies key aspects of the structure–performance relationships and provides evidence-based design guidelines for designing advanced aerogel adsorbents tailored for efficient, low-pressure gas storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Aerogel and Aerogel Composites (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 22127 KB  
Article
Adsorption Mechanism of Nitrogen in CNT-Reinforced Silica Aerogels: A Molecular Dynamics Insight
by Wenping Yue, Yiming Song, Jingjing He, Yi Yang, Kaiqi Wei, Yuxuan Liu and Jia Bai
Gels 2026, 12(5), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050371 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 528
Abstract
Silica aerogels are ideal candidates for gas adsorption due to their exceptional porosity and high specific surface area; however, the inherent mechanical fragility of their skeletal framework significantly compromises their operational stability in engineering applications. While the incorporation of carbon nanomaterials effectively enhances [...] Read more.
Silica aerogels are ideal candidates for gas adsorption due to their exceptional porosity and high specific surface area; however, the inherent mechanical fragility of their skeletal framework significantly compromises their operational stability in engineering applications. While the incorporation of carbon nanomaterials effectively enhances the mechanical robustness of aerogels, the specific microscopic mechanisms by which filler microstructure and surface chemistry dictate gas adsorption behavior remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we employed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to develop a model of silicon-based porous composites synergistically doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. The adsorption and diffusion characteristics of nitrogen (N2) were systematically investigated across a CNT doping concentration range of 5% to 20%, and the influence of surface hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity on adsorption performance was quantitatively analyzed by modulating potential energy parameters. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of CNTs reconfigures the porous architecture, leading to an approximately 18.25% increase in the normalized specific surface area, which subsequently drives a 15% enhancement in the overall adsorption capacity of the composite. Nevertheless, analysis reveals that the weight-specific adsorption efficiency of the CNT component itself exhibits a declining trend as the doping concentration increases. This phenomenon is primarily attributed to the convex curvature of the CNTs, which restricts the effective contact area and weakens the adsorption potential, alongside the steric hindrance effects arising from local filler agglomeration at higher concentrations. Furthermore, surface chemical properties exert a significant regulatory influence on adsorption; a strongly hydrophilic modified surface (λ = 1.5) achieved an adsorption capacity approximately 98% higher than the baseline condition—an improvement that exceeds the gains provided by purely physical volume expansion. This research elucidates the synergistic mechanism between physical architecture and surface chemical modification in the adsorption process, suggesting that while the physical architecture determines the abundance of potential adsorption sites, the surface chemistry governs the actual efficiency of site utilization. These findings provide critical theoretical insights for the future design of composite aerogel materials that balance structural stability with superior adsorption performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Aerogel and Aerogel Composites (2nd Edition))
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop