What is it about?
Polytetrafluoroethylene-based aerogel was synthesized for the first time. Graphene oxide was used as a binder. In this paper, we report on the successful synthesis of aerogel based on polytetrafluoroethylene (70%) and graphene oxide. After reduction with hydrazine and annealing at 370 °C, the aerogel with a specific weight of approximately 30 mg/cm3 became hydrophobic (CWA for some samples reached 163.7 degrees).
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Why is it important?
The unique properties of aerogels are formed due to their composition, mainly consisting of air. Silica aerogels have a density of from 0.003 to 0.1 g/cm3 and are characterized by a high specific surface area, a low dielectric constant, low thermal conductivity and superhydrophobicity. At the same time, we did not find a single publication about aerogels that included polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is known for its hydrophobicity. The reason for this may be that PTFE has a very low adhesion and is not wetted by most organic solvents. Therefore, obtaining aerogel based on PTFE is an interesting and technically challenging task.
Perspectives
Aerogel with polytetrafluoroethylene glazing units have a large energy saving potential. Aerogel with PTFE and graphene oxide glazing units are promising for daylight management in buildings. Aerogel glazing units may have a high environmental impact.
Evgeny Kabachkov
Institute of the Problems of Chemical Physics Russian Academy of Sciences
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This page is a summary of: Novel Superhydrophobic Aerogel on the Base of Polytetrafluoroethylene, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, August 2019, American Chemical Society (ACS),
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b10455.
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Novel Superhydrophobic Aerogel on the Base of Polytetrafluoroethylene
Polytetrafluoroethylene-based aerogel was synthesized for the first time. Graphene oxide was used as a binder. After reduction with hydrazine and annealing at 370°C, the aerogel with a density of 29 ± 2 mg/cm3 became superhydrophobic. The aerogel was characterized by IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The sorption capacity of the aerogel for seven solvents and its sorption recyclability for hexane were measured.
Figure
Photographs of the aerogel before (A) and after reduction with subsequent annealing (B).
Novel Superhydrophobic Aerogel on the Base of Polytetrafluoroethylene
pubs.acs.org
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