Silica aerogels possess a range of remarkable properties, including: - Low Density: They are among the lightest solid materials known, with densities as low as 0.001 g/cm³. - High Porosity: They can have porosities up to 99.8%, making them extremely lightweight. - Thermal Insulation: They are excellent thermal insulators, having thermal conductivities as low as 0.013 W/m·K. - Optical Transparency: Some silica aerogels are nearly transparent, allowing for various optical applications. - High Surface Area: Their surface area can range from 600 to 1000 m²/g, making them ideal for applications involving adsorption and catalysis.
