Synthesis and physicochemical properties of graphene/ZrO2 composite aerogels

Aerogel materials possess a wide variety of exceptional properties, including a quite low density, high specific surface area, high porosity, etc. Considering that both graphene aerogels and ZrO2 aerogels have advantages and disadvantages respectively, graphene/ZrO2 composite aerogels are prepared, by a facile step, to enable them to have low thermal conductivity and to enhance the electronic interaction between the ZrO2 nanoparticles and graphene sheets. The chemical composition and crystalline structure of the resulting graphene/ZrO2 composite aerogels, as well as the strong interaction between the graphene sheets and the ZrO2 nanoparticles, have been disclosed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The morphology and hierarchically porous attributes of the resulting graphene/ZrO2 composite aerogels have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests. The mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, electrochemical properties and thermal conductivity (as well as thermal stability) of the resulting graphene/ZrO2 composite aerogels have also been revealed in this study.