Work

Synthesis of boron-carbide aerogels

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We present the synthesis of boron carbide aerogels utilizing nano-boron powder and resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) organic aerogels as precursors. Monolithic aerogels were fabricated from suspensions of boron nanoparticles and RF via an organic sol-gel process, enabling effective distribution of boron in the gel network. The resulting gels underwent supercritical drying, thermal reduction, and subsequent heat treatment to yield boron carbide aerogels with densities ranging from 37 to 55 mg/cm³. By tuning the boron-to-carbon ratio, heat treatment temperature, and dwell time, surface areas up to 53 m²/g were obtained. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the boron carbide phase and detected the presence of residual carbon within the structure.

Source: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology

DOI: 10.1007/s10971-026-07113-3

Authors: Swetha Chandrasekaran, Bruce Yang, Alyssa Troksa, Marcus Worsley

Institution: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Aerogels and thermal insulation

Subfield: Spectroscopy

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990

Funder: U.S. Department of Energy