The Silica Aerogels Photo Gallery

Click on an image to see an enlarged photo with description.

Flower resting on a slab of aerogel over a flaming bunsen burner.

"The Flower"

Supercritical Drying System

Supercritical drying system		  

Through the Looking Glass

Kevin Lofftus smiling behind a transparent aerogel window pane.

"The Vomit Comet"

Interior of microgravity research aircraft.

An Optical Oxygen Sensor

Oxygen sensor, pictured next to a mug. They are about the same size.

Carbon Nanostructure in Aerogel

A dark ring of carbon in an aerogel.

Carbon Ring Around Nickel Particle

Electron micrograph of silica aerogel containing a diagonal crystal of tungsten disulphide.

T.E.M. of Silica Aerogel

Transmission electron micrograph of silica aerogel.		 Instrument for measuring thermal conductivity.

VICTOR

Magnetic Aerogel

Hand holding a magnet which is attracting a small chunk of magnetic aerogel.

Six Aerogel Nanocomposites

Chunks of nanocomposites. Top row: (left) opaque white aerogel contains an organic compound, (right) orange aerogel contains iron oxide;; Middle row: (left) the pale green aerogel contains copper, (right) the black aerogel contains carbon and iron; Bottom row: (left) the deep blue aerogel contains nickel, (right) the white and tan aerogel contains an organic compound.

WS2 Crystal in Silica Aerogel

Dark spots of magnetite on an aerogel surface.		 Silica Aerogel/Magnetite Nanocomposite: The dark spots are Fe3O4 nanocrystals.

Silica Aerogel/Magnetite Nanocomposite

Photoluminescent Silicon on Silica

Three pinkish chunks of silica aerogel on a black surface.

Photoluminescent Silica Aerogel

 Same piece of aerogel under normal lighting and under ultraviolet light.