A critical review of superinsulation performance of ceramic nanofibrous aerogel for extreme conditions: Modeling, fabrication, applications, and outlook

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  Ceramic aerogels fabricated with nanofibers have recently emerged as a new class of aerogels with remarkable insulation performance and features such as robust mechanical performance, ultra-low density, remarkable flexibility, ultra-low thermal conductivity, thermal stability, ultra-high temperature resistance, and enhanced extinction coefficient. As a result, they are an excellent choice for emerging engineering applications where ultra-lightweight and load-bearing materials are simultaneously crucial for high-temperature thermal insulation. Recently, several research articles have been undertaken to design, model, and fabricate ceramic nanofibers and nanofibrous aerogels to meet these requirements. We present an in-depth review based on the most recent progress of this unique material for high-temperature thermal insulation. This article would be a timely review to disseminate the most recent factors, progress, applications, insights, and future prospects in thermal transport for ceramic nanofibers and aerogels, as well as a roadmap that shows the way forward in the field.