Tailoring Nanoporous Silica and Natural Straw Structural Insulation Composites

Nanoporous silica exhibits ultralow thermal conductivity as a result of its nanoscale pore size, high pore volume, and specific surface area. In this study, we report the self-assembled surfactant-templated synthesis of nanoporous silica, which is integrated with cellulose fibers derived from natural straw to manufacture high thermal insulation and mechanically robust nanocomposites. The nanocomposite shows a low thermal conductivity of 22.5 mW/(m<middle dot>K), a compressive modulus of 0.93 MPa, and a hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 125 degrees. Moreover, we observed a marked reduction in water absorption capacity and a carbon footprint of 0.21 kg CO2 equiv/kg. This study provides a pathway toward the development of nanoporous structural insulation materials for energy-efficient building applications