Novel flexible aerogels derived from methyltrimethoxysilane/3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane co-precursor

• Novel flexible aerogels from MTMS and GPTMS were synthesized.
• A maximum surface area of 410 m2 g-1 was obtained for F-40/30-2.
• F-30/30-2 aerogel was highly flexible.
• F-30/30-2 aerogel possessed a thermal conductivity of 0.0388 W m−1 K−1.
• Young’s modulus of F-30/30-2 aerogel was found to be 0.46 MPa.

Flexible aerogels from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and 3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) were prepared by employing a two-step acid–base sol–gel process along with the use of a surfactant. The alcogels have been aged for one day and two days. The resulting aerogels were flexible and possessed high surface areas. A maximum surface area of 410 m2 g-1 was obtained for F-40/30-2. The F-30/30-2 aerogel were highly flexible, possessed low thermal conductivity of 0.0388 W m−1 K−1 and a high Young’s modulus of 0.46 MPa.

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