aerogel

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

an ultra-low-density solid material produced by replacing the liquid component of a gel with gas through supercritical drying, creating a porous network of interconnected nanoparticles that can be composed of silica, carbon, alumina, or organic polymers; aerogels hold multiple entries in the Guinness World Records as the least dense solid materials ever created, with densities approaching three milligrams per cubic centimetre; their extraordinary porosity, up to 99.98 percent air by volume, gives them the lowest thermal conductivity of any known solid, making them exceptional thermal insulators used in aerospace applications including the Mars rovers, building insulation panels, and protective clothing for firefighters and polar expeditions