A state of the art and prospective of hybrid aerogel

Over a few decades, the evolution of porous materials has extensively influenced energy applications, affecting air quality and minimizing the utilization of fossil fuels. Nanoporous structured supercapacitors, higher power density batteries, and dye-synthesized solar cells were eco-friendly energy storages for sustainable energy development. The overall performance of these modernized methods is contingent on the hierarchical porous assembly and physical and chemical attributes of the functional materials. Due to these notable characteristics like low thermal conductivity, low density, high specific surface area, hierarchical mesoporous structure, maximum ultimate strength, comparatively low dielectric behavior, transparency, and inorganic aerogel-based materials are the center of attraction for various applications, that is, Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs), fuel cells, cryogenic energy storage devices, dye synthesized cells, construction, and thermal and acoustic insulations. A few varieties of metal alkoxides, semiconductors, graphene, and other nanoparticles have been synthesized from colloidal nanoparticles. However, in many applications, an assembly of these functional materials into a macroscopic structure is required. Due to the higher material cost, expensive process ability, and safety hazards from dust formation, these materials have limited pragmatic significance. To enhance the total number of active sites in an electrode-based material, a 3D network/aerogel is a promising material for energy storage with enhanced hierarchical porous structure, rapid ion transport, superior physical capability, and higher cycle performance. This current review aims to highlight applications of hybrid aerogel for different energy applications such as catalysts in fuel cells, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries, photovoltaic units, acoustic insulations, and synthesis.