Designing macroscopic, 3D porous multifunctional materials is of great importance in many fields, including energy storage, thermal insulation, sensors, and catalysis. Polar bears have hairs with a membrane-pore structure, which contributes to adaptation to harsh environments. Inspired by polar bear hair, this study reports a facile route to fabricate multifunctional silica nanotube aerogels (SNTAs) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of silica onto the sacrificial carbon nanoskeleton of a carbon aerogel (CA). The resulting SNTAs are not only porous, nanotubular, transparent, and lightweight but also hydrophobic, thermal resistant, mechanically robust, and machinable. Moreover, SNTAs show relatively high visible and near-infrared light transmittance and almost no ultraviolet and far-infrared light transmittance, which makes it an ideal material to provide greenhouse effects and protect human beings from an overdose of ultraviolet radiation. Multifunctional SNTAs provide an integrated solution for thermal insulation, daylighting, and UV protection applied in outer space or at high latitudes.

中文翻译：

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北极熊头发启发的多功能二氧化硅纳米管气凝胶，用于光管理和隔热

在许多领域，包括储能，隔热，传感器和催化，设计宏观的3D多孔多功能材料非常重要。北极熊的毛发具有膜孔结构，有助于适应恶劣的环境。受北极熊毛的启发，该研究报告了一种通过将二氧化硅化学气相沉积（CVD）沉积到碳气凝胶（CA）的牺牲碳纳米骨架上来制造多功能二氧化硅纳米管气凝胶（SNTA）的简便方法。所得的SNTA不仅是多孔的，纳米管的，透明的和轻质的，而且是疏水的，耐热的，机械坚固的和可加工的。此外，SNTA显示出相对较高的可见光和近红外光透射率，而几乎没有紫外线和远红外光透射率，这使其成为提供温室效应并保护人类免受过量紫外线辐射的理想材料。多功能SNTA提供了用于外太空或高纬度地区的隔热，日光和紫外线防护的集成解决方案。