AEROGELS DERIVED FROM MULTIFUNCTIONAL ORGANIC MONOMERS

The ability to tailor the structure and properties of aerogels at the nanometer scale opens exciting possibilities for these novel materials. Traditional inorganic aerogels are made via the hydrolysis and condensation of metal alkoxides. Synthesis of organic aerogels based upon the aqueous polycondensation of (1) resorcinol with formaldehyde and (2) melamine with formaldehyde was recently reported. The former materials can also be pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere to form vitreous carbon aerogels. In both the inorganic and organic systems, the structure and properties of the dried aerogel are dictated by polymerization conditions. Factors such as pH, reactant ratio, and temperature influence the cross-linking chemistry and growth processes taking place prior to gelation. This paper addresses the chemistry structure-property relationships of organic aerogels.