Organic low molecular weight aerogel formed in supercritical fluids

Aerogels of 2,3-didecyloxyanthracene (DDOA) are prepared from supercritical fluids in two different ways. In the first, the gel is formed by mixing DD OA and ethanol, and dried by flushing with supercritical CO2. This process produces a white, light and friable aerogel (density of 6x10(-3) g cm(-3)), constituted of fibers with diameters ranging from 100 to 200 nm. In the se cond, DDOA is solubilized in supercritical CO2 to give a gel which is dried under the same experimental conditions. The resulting very low density aer ogel (2x10(-3) g cm(-3)), has a specific surface equal to 10 m(2) g(-1), an d constitutes a network of long fibers with diameters varying from 100 to 2 00 nm.