Deep-sea glass sponges-like hollow porous ceramic fiber aerogel: Fabrication, anti-shrinkage and thermal insulation

Ceramic aerogels prepared using the polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) route were extensively applied in the thermal insulation field with lightweight and high-temperature resistance. However, ceramic aerogels were susceptible to weight loss and volume shrinkage at high temperatures, leading to the collapse of the aerogel structure and a reduction in thermal insulation performance. In this paper, inspired by the skeletal structure of deep-sea glass sponges, hollow porous MHP-SiC-CA ceramic fiber aerogel was prepared by electrostatic spinning. The anti-shrinkage property of ceramic fiber aerogel was improved through the circular and spindle-shaped pores on the surface of hollow fibers. The gas-solid phase interface was increased by the abundant nanopore structure, leading to enhanced reflection and refraction of thermal radiation within the aerogel. The heat conduction and heat convection of the aerogel were reduced with the hollow and porous structure. The results presented that the ceramic fiber aerogel exhibited excellent anti-shrinkage properties, high specific strength , and ultra-low thermal conductivity . The material was expected to provide novel perspectives for the development of ceramic fiber aerogels applicable to ultra-high-temperature environments.