DESCRIPTION

We have prepared aerogels with dopants such as PMP, CAP, and a host of laser dyes, including fluorescein, rhodamine, pylokrome, and nile red. The lanthanide chlorides of erbium, praseodymium, and europium have been co polymerized with silica, resulting in transparent monolithic aerogels. Transition metals and the alkali and alkaline earth metals, such as copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium, iron, strontium, and rubidium, have been incorporated into silica matrices. The alkoxides of the transition metals of titanium, zirconium, vanadium, and tantalum have been co hydrolyzed with silicon alkoxide to prepare mixed aerogel systems and pure metal oxide aerogels, xerogels, and glasses. Boron and aluminum sols have been incorporated into gelling silica systems to produce composite aerogels with controlled porosity. Aerogels made using chain-substituted trimethoxysilanes can undergo further reactions, such as halogenation of a vinyl-alkyl group, and enable hydrophobic vs hydrophilic materials to be made.

STATUS: 

We are interested in collaborating with industrial partners to improve the performance of their products using these potentially revolutionary materials.

CONTACT

Veronica Lanier
Phone: (925) 422-5686
Fax: (925) 423-8988
E-mail: lanier2@llnl.gov
Mail code: L-795

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