Applications of Dry Gels

Optical coatings The losses of optical devices can be reducedby coating them with an aerogel of (matched) low refractive index (Hrubesh and Poco, 1995 Hru-besh, 1998) in this way, more sunlight can reach the active surface of a solar cell and, in fiber optics, light collection at the fiber entrance and signal propagation efficiency can be improved. 

Catalysis and chromatography These are obvious applications for aerogels with 

For all these applications, the pore stmcture and high porosity of the aerogel are very important, even if the geometrical shape may vary from large monohths to particulate material, and to films. After gel synthesis, it is therefore cmdal to preserve the solid network during the drying step. 

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