Fabrication of hydrophobic silica–cellulose aerogels by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent

Abstract Hydrophobic silica–cellulose aerogels (SCAs) were prepared for the first time by the sol–gel process and the supercritical drying (SCD) method. Silica sols were prepared by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent to suppress phase separation. The microfibrillated celluloses (MFCs) were extracted by the acid hydrolysis of cotton pulps and then dispersed into silica sols. The results show that the SCAs have the structural and hydrophobic features of silica aerogels. DMSO renders two functions of dispersing MFCs and suppressing phase separation deriving from the silicon alkoxide with hydrophobic groups.