Sub−1 nm Nanowire Aerogels

The emerging sub−1 nm nanowires (SNWs) have received tremendous attention given their intriguing properties and broad applications attributable to their ultrasmall feature size. However, applying SNWs in microstructure-preserving macroscopic functional materials (e.g., aerogels) remains challenging because the solvents used for preparing SNWs are not compatible with conventional supercritical drying or freeze-drying techniques. In this study, the fabrication of SNW aerogels (SNWAs) is pioneered by developing a nonpolar solvent-based freeze-casting strategy. Cyclohexane, a nonpolar solvent with a freezing point (6.5 °C) comparable to that of water, is selected as a reaction and drying medium to assemble various SNWs. The resulting self-standing SNWAs display low density, excellent hydrophobicity and lipophilicity, and tunable luminescent color. This strategy not only introduces a new aggregation form of SNWs but also provides a creative perspective on synthesizing aerogel structures from sub−1 nm building blocks.