Mechanically reinforced silica aerogel nanocomposites via surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerizations

Here we report the preparation of mechanically robust silica aerogel polymer nanocomposites using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. This approach was used to grow poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with low polydispersities and establish the first structure–property relationship between the grafted PMMA molecular weight and bulk physical properties of the hybrid aerogel.