Superhydrophobic Highly Flexible Triple-Network Polyorganosiloxane-Based Aerogels for Thermal Insulation, Oil–Water Separation, and Strain/Pressure Sensing

Polyvinylpolymethylsiloxane (PVPMS)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) copolymer aerogels were synthesized via consecutive radical polymerization and cohydrolytic polycondensation of vinylmethyldimethoxysilane and dimethyldimethoxysilane, followed by supercritical drying or ambient pressure drying. The resultant PVPMS/PDMS copolymer aerogels exhibit a highly porous, tunable triple-network structure consisting of interlinked hydrocarbon polymers, PVPMS and PDMS. These aerogels display superhydrophobicity (151°), low density (109 mg cm–3), low thermal conductivity (29.8 mW m–1 K–1), and adjustable pore structure. The combination of good machinability, low thermal conductivity, excellent compressive elasticity and bending flexibility, and efficient organic solvent adsorption gives these aerogels broad application prospects in thermal insulation and oil–water separation. In addition, PVPMS/PDMS/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite aerogels were obtained by incorporating the conductive CNTs, followed by vacuum drying. The resultant PVPMS/PDMS/CNT composite aerogel exhibits high sensitivity with a broad pressure sensing range in strain and pressure sensing applications.