journal article·2026-04

Bioinspired Porous Hydrogel Templating Enables the Ambient Synthesis of Highly Adhesive Aerogels for Long‐Term Wildfire Prevention and Infrastructure Protection

Xiaoyang Yu, Huan Li, Xuyang Miao, Ning Kang, Ruowen Zong, Shouxiang Lu, Mingjun Xu, Man Pun Wan

Advanced Functional Materials· Volume 36· Issue 30
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Wildfires present a growing risk to ecosystems, human safety, and infrastructure, particularly at vulnerable wildland–urban interfaces (WUIs). Existing fire suppressants and retardants are essentially limited by poor adhesion, water dependency, and susceptibility to weathering, rendering them ineffective for long‐term prophylactic protection. Inspired by the robust, humidity‐resistant adhesion mechanism of snail mucus, a sprayable porous dual‐network hydrogel platform is developed. In its hydrated state, the softened foaming gel conformally adapts to the target substrate by low‐energy deformation. After ambient drying, this gel adheres to vegetation and transforms into a highly adhesive, mechanically robust aerogel without collapse. The resulting aerogel has exceptional properties: strong substrate adhesion (shear strength >2.0 MPa on wood), outstanding thermal insulation (<27 mW·m −1 ·K −1 ), high flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index (LOI)>40%), and remarkable water resistance. It is demonstrated that this aerogel forms an in situ thermal barrier and protective char/silica layer after flame exposure through spontaneous contraction of surface pores, significantly reducing the ignition probability. Wildfire suppression tests confirm its superior efficacy as a long‐lasting firebreak on vegetation, retaining functionality after several days of weathering and water exposure. This porous hydrogel platform and its derived aerogel provide a promising solution for persistent wildfire mitigation and durable protection of WUI infrastructure.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity · Flame retardant materials and properties · Aerogels and thermal insulation

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Fire Science University of Science and Technology of China Hefei 230026 China

Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Electric Fire and Safety Protection State Grid Anhui Electric Power Research Institute Hefei 230601 China

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Nanyang Technological University Singapore 639798 Singapore

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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