Konjac glucomannan-based nanofibrous aerogel for high-strength thermal superinsulation.

Amid global efforts toward energy conservation and sustainable development, renewable and eco-friendly thermal insulation materials are critically needed. This study presents konjac glucomannan (KGM) based aerogels-featuring integrated nanofibrous and nanoporous architectures-fabricated via a stepwise polarity-induced assembly strategy coupled with CO₂ supercritical drying. By modulating the polarity of organic solvents, this method controls the network packing and chain entanglement in KGM hydrogels during solvent exchange, thereby preserving their volumetric stability and structural integrity after CO₂ supercritical drying. The resulting aerogel achieves ultralow density (0.0348 g cm-3), high specific surface area (273 m2 g-1), superior thermal insulation (λ = 0.0212 W m-1 K-1), and notable mechanical strength under tension and compression. These attributes establish KGM-based aerogels as sustainable, biodegradable candidates for advanced thermal energy management systems, demonstrating exceptional potential as superinsulating materials.