Silica Aerogel: Synthesis and Applications

Table 3

Applications of the aerogel perspective to properties.

Property	Feature	Application
Thermal conductivity	(i) Best insulating solid	(i) Building construction and appliance insulation
	(ii) Transparent	(ii) Storage media
	(iii) Withstand high temperature	(iii) Automobiles, Space vehicles
	(iv) Light weight	(iv) Solar devices, solar ponds
Density/porosity	(i) Lightest synthetic solid	(i) Catalysis
	(ii) High surface area	(ii) Sensor
	(iii) Multiple compositions	(iii) Fuel storage
		(iv) Ion exchange
		(v) Filters for pollutants gaseous
		(vi) Targets for ICF
		(vii) Pigment carriers
		(viii) Template
Optical	(i) Transparent	(i) Light weight optics
	(ii) Low refractive index	(ii) Cherenkov detectors
	(iii) Multiple composition	(iii) Light guides
Acoustic	(i) Low speed of sound	(i) Sound proof rooms
		(ii) Acoustic impedance matching in ultrasonic distance sensors
Mechanical	(i) Elastic	(i) Energy absorber
	(ii) Light weight	(ii) Hypervelocity particle trap
Electrical	(i) Lowest dielectric constant	(i) Dielectrics for ICs
	(ii) High dielectric strength	(ii) Spacers for vacuum electrodes
	(iii) High surface area	(iii) Capacitors