Advanced Aerogels: From Design to Application (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 968

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla–La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: thermochemical processes; aerogel; phase change materials; catalyst
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aerogels are a class of highly porous materials with unique properties such as low density, high surface area, and high thermal insulation. These materials have gained significant attention in various fields, including energy storage, environmental remediation, and aerospace, due to their exceptional properties. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the design and application of aerogels, leading to the development of advanced aerogel materials with enhanced properties and functionalities.

Another important aspect of advancing aerogel technology is the development of novel composite materials that combine aerogels with other functional materials to create materials with enhanced properties. For example, aerogel composites with carbon nanotubes have been shown to exhibit superior mechanical strength and conductivity, making them ideal for applications in structural materials and electronics. Overall, advancements in aerogel technology have opened new possibilities for the design and application of these unique materials.

This Special Issue, titled “Advanced Aerogels: From Design to Application”, aims to highlight recent advances in research on aerogel materials. We welcome submissions covering key aspects of aerogel composites from all perspectives, including fundamental studies and application-focused research.

Prof. Dr. María Luz Sánchez Silva
Guest Editor

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

  • aerogels
  • aerogel composites
  • synthesis and characterization
  • physicochemical properties
  • application

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 1879 KB  
Article
Digital Twin-Driven Optimization of Pilot-Scale Polyurethane Aerogel Production Using SVR Modelling
by Óscar Brandón-Basdediós, Laura Miguélez-Riádigos, Esther Pinilla-Peñalver, Mateo Alonso, Paula Sánchez, Luz Sánchez-Silva and Juan Luis Sobreira-Seoane
Gels 2026, 12(6), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12060483 - 1 Jun 2026
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Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient materials has positioned aerogels as promising candidates for advanced insulation applications. Among them, polyurethane (PU) aerogels are attracting increasing interest due to their thermal insulation properties and mechanical versatility. However, their development commonly relies on trial-and-error [...] Read more.
The growing demand for sustainable and energy-efficient materials has positioned aerogels as promising candidates for advanced insulation applications. Among them, polyurethane (PU) aerogels are attracting increasing interest due to their thermal insulation properties and mechanical versatility. However, their development commonly relies on trial-and-error experimentation, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. This study presents a Digital Twin (DT) framework to support PU aerogel design and reduce the experimental workload. A pilot-scale DT was developed using data from 21 synthesis experiments, including process configuration, parameter mapping, model development, and process analysis. Two predictive models were evaluated, with the Support Vector Regression (SVR) model showing good agreement with the experimental data (R2 = 0.964) and being selected to estimate aerogel density within the parameter range studied. The DT framework enabled the identification of synthesis conditions associated with lower density, which may contribute to improved thermal insulation performance. These results illustrate the potential of DT-assisted modelling to support material development, improve process understanding, and guide more efficient experimentation in PU aerogel synthesis. Overall, this work highlights a data-driven approach for advancing sustainable and scalable aerogel manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Aerogels: From Design to Application (2nd Edition))
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Review

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46 pages, 14464 KB  
Review
Noble Metal Aerogels: Synthesis and Application as Support-Free Anode Electrocatalysts for Ethanol Electro-Oxidation
by Shaik Gouse Peera, Mohanraj Vinothkannan, Shaik Ashmath, Tae Gwan Lee, Myunghwan Byun and Seung Won Kim
Gels 2026, 12(5), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050397 - 3 May 2026
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Abstract
Self-sustained metal aerogels are emerging as advanced porous materials with a 3D network of nanostructures that are exclusively made of metals. Metal aerogels possess a distinctive combination of metallic nanoparticles with excellent electronic conductivity, and the excellent porosity of the aerogels allows the [...] Read more.
Self-sustained metal aerogels are emerging as advanced porous materials with a 3D network of nanostructures that are exclusively made of metals. Metal aerogels possess a distinctive combination of metallic nanoparticles with excellent electronic conductivity, and the excellent porosity of the aerogels allows the extensive exposure of electrocatalytic active sites, together with remarkable mass transport networks in a single entity, unlocking widespread application potential ranging from energy storage and conversion to environmental remediation. In this review, we systematically examine the potential of metal aerogels as electrocatalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation. Various synthesis routes, structure–property relationships, and their function as anode electrocatalysts have been critically reviewed. Due to their 3D porous metallic nature, noble metal aerogel catalysts were found to exhibit excellent ethanol oxidation currents, anti-poisoning for reaction intermediates, high mass, and specific activities of 5–20 times those of traditional Pd/C catalysts. In conclusion, it is shown that metal aerogel catalysts exhibit enhanced activity for ethanol electro-oxidation currents over traditional Pd/C catalysts. Despite this, several challenges exist in realizing the commercial applications of metal aerogels, which have been clearly and elaborately stated as future perspectives and research directions in the field of metal aerogel electrocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Aerogels: From Design to Application (2nd Edition))
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