Bulk and surface light scattering from transparent silica aerogel

Werner J. Platzer; Mikael Bergkvist

doi:10.1117/12.130519

25 November 1992 Bulk and surface light scattering from transparent silica aerogel

Werner J. Platzer, Mikael Bergkvist

Proceedings Volume 1727, Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Conversion XI: Selective Materials, Concentrators and Reflectors, Transparent Insulation and Superwindows; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.130519
Event: Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy, 1992, Toulouse-Labege, France

Abstract

Elastic light scattering has been used to study structural properties of different transparent aerogels, which may be used as filling materials in super-windows. With a goniometer having an angular resolution better than 0.6 degree(s) and a He-Ne laser as the light source we investigated the angular distribution of scattered intensity from transparent silica aerogels and one xerogel. The densities ranged between 0.11 and 0.60 gcm^-3. An exponential correlation function for the density fluctuations of a random porous medium has been utilized to analyze the large-angle scattering, which is dominated by bulk scattering, for different polarization of the incident light. The determination of correlation lengths in the nanometer range was possible, because the absolute scattering intensities were determined. For relative angular dependence measurements, this range would have been accessible only to small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The resulting mean pore sizes between 8 nm and 50 nm and specific surface areas between 500 and 700 m²/g agree well with nitrogen-porosimetry data from the literature. The data compare quite well with correlation lengths calculated from specular transmittance data from an ordinary spectrophotometer. This method, which is not sensitive to the angular distribution of superposed forward scattering with large correlation lengths, has also been applied to a series of base-catalyzed TMOS aerogels with different catalyst concentrations. The forward scattering peak of the signal may be attributed to correlation lengths in the micrometer range. Experimental results for aerogel surfaces with evaporated aluminum indicate that this might be due to the surface properties. A quantitative analysis, however, is not possible yet.

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Werner J. Platzer and Mikael Bergkvist "Bulk and surface light scattering from transparent silica aerogel", Proc. SPIE 1727, Optical Materials Technology for Energy Efficiency and Solar Energy Conversion XI: Selective Materials, Concentrators and Reflectors, Transparent Insulation and Superwindows, (25 November 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.130519

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KEYWORDS

Scattering

Light scattering

Laser scattering

Sensors

Time multiplexed optical shutter

Signal attenuation

Silica

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