Recent advances in preparation technologies, modifications and multidisciplinary applications of aerogel materials

Due to ultra-low density, high porosity, low thermal conductivity, and tunable surface properties, aerogels have emerged as lightweight, multifunctional nanoporous materials with broad prospects in energy conservation, environmental protection, and the biomedical fields. Nevertheless, high scaling-up costs, weak mechanical robustness and limited integrated functionality impede the engineering utilization of aerogels. This work systematically summarizes state-of-the-art advances in aerogel synthesis, modification and application fields.It focuses on analyzing the characteristics of various preparation methods, including sol-gel, 3D printing, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), direct spinning, and self-assembly, and elucidates the mechanisms by which aging and drying processes influence pore structure and property formation. On this basis, we systematically summarize various functional modification strategies for aerogels, including hydrophobic, flame-retardant, and conductive sensing functionalization, and overview their state-of-the-art applications in biomedicine, building energy conservation, sound insulation, and environmental remediation. Furthermore, critical challenges concerning scalable manufacturing, multi-property synergistic optimization, and extreme-environment adaptability are elaborated, aiming to offer theoretical references for the research, development and practical deployment of high-performance aerogels.