Coated Aerogels
A coated aerogel, and corresponding method, includes an aerogel and a polymer coating on at least a portion of a surface of the aerogel. The coated aerogel further includes a second coating on at least a portion of a surface of the polymer coating. The second coating can be electrically conductive and/or patterned.
1 . A coated aerogel comprising:
an aerogel;
a polymer coating on at least a portion of a surface of the aerogel; and
an electrically conductive coating on at least a portion of a surface of the polymer coating.
2 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive coating is patterned.
3 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel is selected from the group consisting of a polymer aerogel, a silica aerogel, a ceramic aerogel, a carbon aerogel, a metal oxide aerogel, and combinations thereof.
4 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the polymer coating is selected from the group consisting of a fluoroplastic, a thermoset polycondensate, a thermoplastic, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polycondensate, a thermoplastic elastomer, and combinations thereof.
5 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the polymer coating is a polyimide coating.
6 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the polymer coating is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
7 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the aerogel has at least one dimension exceeding 1 cm.
8 . The coated aerogel of claim 1 , wherein the coated aerogel is a component of an ion mobility spectrometer comprising a sample inlet, an ionization region, and a drift tube.
9 . The coated aerogel of claim 8 , wherein the coated aerogel is at least partially between the sample inlet and the ionization region.
10 . The coated aerogel of claim 9 , wherein the coated aerogel provides a thermal break between the sample inlet and the ionization region.
11 . The coated aerogel of claim 8 , wherein the coated aerogel is located at least partially between the ionization region and the drift tube.
12 . The coated aerogel of claim 8 , wherein the coated aerogel is located at least partially surrounding the sample inlet, the ionization region, and the drift tube.
13 . The coated aerogel of claim 8 , wherein the ion mobility spectrometer further comprises a chemical permeation chamber and wherein the coated aerogel at least partially surrounds the chemical permeation chamber.
14 . The coated aerogel of claim 8 , wherein the ion mobility spectrometer further comprises a dryer module, and wherein the coated aerogel at least partially surrounds the dryer module.
15 . A method of making a polymer-coated aerogel, the method comprising:
a) applying a polymer resin to an aerogel;
b) allowing the polymer resin to polymerize; and
c) applying an electrically conductive coating to the polymer resin.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising patterning the electrically conductive coating.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the aerogel is chosen from the group consisting of a polymer aerogel, a silica aerogel, a ceramic aerogel, a carbon aerogel, a metal oxide aerogel, and combinations thereof.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymer resin is chosen from the group consisting of a resin of a fluoroplastic, a thermoset polycondensate, a thermoplastic, a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polycondensate, a thermoplastic elastomer, and combinations thereof.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymer resin is a polyimide resin.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymer resin is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin.
21 . A coated aerogel comprising:
an aerogel;
a polymer coating on at least a portion of a surface of the aerogel; and
a patterned coating on at least a portion of a surface of the polymer coating.
22 . A method of making a polymer-coated aerogel, the method comprising:
a) applying a polymer resin to an aerogel;
b) allowing the polymer resin to polymerize; and
c) applying a patterned coating to the polymer resin.