Aerogel Applications in Green Energy

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In the field of green energy, aerogels have evolved from mere “insulation materials” into key components for core processes such as energy storage, hydrogen production, and carbon capture.

Below are the latest news and technological advancements in aerogel applications for green energy from 2025 to early 2026:

1. Lithium Battery Safety: From “Heat Shields” to “Active Firewalls”

  • Commercial Mass Production Surge: In June 2025, global materials giant Alkegen announced the official launch of large-scale commercial production for its **fiber-reinforced aerogel thermal pads (AlkeGel)**, specifically engineered for electric vehicles (EVs). This next-generation aerogel features “low dust generation and no encapsulation requirements,” enabling easier integration into space-constrained battery packs.
  • Preventing Thermal Runaway Propagation: Leading battery manufacturers like CATL and BYD have adopted aerogels as standard thermal barriers between battery cells. The 2026 technological focus lies in leveraging aerogel’s ultra-low thermal conductivity to successfully contain thermal runaway fires within individual cells, preventing their spread throughout the entire battery pack.

2. Hydrogen Energy and Energy Storage: More Efficient “Containers” and “Electrodes”

  • Breakthrough in Solid-State Hydrogen Storage: New research in early 2026 reveals that carbon aerogel, with its ultra-high specific surface area (up to 3200 m²/g), demonstrates exceptional hydrogen storage capacity under low-temperature, high-pressure conditions. Scientists are now employing metal modification techniques to enhance its hydrogen storage efficiency at room temperature, which could solve the challenge of long-distance hydrogen transportation.
  • Supercapacitors: Carbon-based aerogels, valued for their excellent conductivity and three-dimensional porous structure, are being widely adopted in next-generation supercapacitor development. By late 2025, a team from the Suzhou Institute of Nanotechnology and Nanoscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, achieved breakthroughs in aerogel electrodes featuring “ion-transport highways,” significantly boosting charging speeds and cycle life in energy storage devices.