Interface-Driven Construction of Three-Dimensional Silver-Carbon Aerogels via Microwave Radiation for Thermal Regulation

Abstract

Efficient energy dissipation and thermal regulation at interfaces are crucial for maintaining the stability and performance of advanced energy systems.Designing and micro-controlling metal-carbon interfaces at the nanoscale holds significant importance. However, conventional carbon composites suffer from weak metal anchoring forces, limited interfacial coupling, and poor controllability during synthesis. This paper proposes a microwavedriven nanoscale interface design strategy to construct silver-modified three-dimensional carbon aerogels. Graphene and carbon nanotubes synergistically function as twin-framework hosts, enabling defectanchored regulation and rapid interface self-assembly. The resulting silvercarbon interface achieves tight bonding without molecular crosslinkers.Interwoven two-dimensional graphene layers and one-dimensional carbon nanotubes form intricate structures. Following chitosan modification, this results in a low-density (0.142 g cm⁻³) gel nanomaterial with low thermal conductivity (0.028 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹). On a 200°C heating platform, the silvermodified carbon-hybrid aerogel material achieved a remarkable 91°C cooling effect. Furthermore, the aerogel's dual-layer composite structure demonstrated exceptional camouflage cooling performance of nearly 140°C, maintaining stability for half an hour. In summary, this work not only elucidates the interaction mechanism of microwave-assisted metal-carbon composites but also reveals their application potential in renewable energy storage and efficient thermal management.