Abstract: A method to produce a polymer gel includes dissolving precursors in a solvent to form a precursor solution, the precursors including polymer precursors, a stable free radical, one or more initiating radicals, and one or more stable free radical control agents, and heating the precursor solution to a temperature of polymerization to produce a cross-linked gel. A dried polymer aerogel has a Brunauer-Emmett Teller (BET) surface area over 100 m2/g, porosity of greater than 10%, visible transparency greater than 20%, color rendering index of over 20%, and average pore size of less than 100 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in is a radiative cooling formulation comprising a first component with >55% reflectance in a wavelengths range of 0.3 to 2.5 microns, a second component with >0.85 peak thermal emissivity in a window range of 4 to 35 microns, and a third component to mechanically bind together a mixture of the first and second components.

Abstract: A sensor has a transparent polymer aerogel, and sensing materials dispersed into the transparent, polymer aerogel, where the sensing materials change color in response to environmental conditions. A method of forming a sensor includes providing a substrate, forming a polymer aerogel layer on the substrate, and infusing the polymer aerogel layer with sensing molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a radiative cooling formulation, an apparatus including a substrate coated with the radiative cooling formulation, and a method of applying a coating of the radiative cooling formulation to an object. In one implementation, a radiative cooling formulation includes a binder which includes a first polymer and a second polymer that are practically water insoluble and are substantially non-absorbing to light having wavelengths in a solar spectrum. The radiative cooling formulation further includes a solar reflector material embedded in the binder.

Abstract: A method of producing a polymer aerogel can include dissolving gel precursors consisting of radical polymerizable monomers and crosslinkers, radical initiators, and a chain transfer agent (CTA) in a reaction solvent, wherein the monomers and cross-linkers produce stiff homopolymers; placing the gel precursors into a substrate; polymerizing the gel on the substrate; optionally removing the wet gel from the mold; optionally performing at least one solvent exchange on the gel; and removing the reaction solvent.

Abstract: A method of producing a transparent polymer aerogel can include dissolving gel precursors consisting of radical polymerizable monomers and crosslinkers, radical initiators, and a chain transfer agent (CTA) in a reaction solvent, placing the gel precursors into a substrate, polymerizing the gel on the substrate, optionally removing the wet gel from the mold, optionally performing at least one solvent exchange on the gel, and drying the solvent-exchanged gel.

Abstract: A method includes depositing graphene into a hardener, mixing the hardener and the graphene to produce a homogenous composite mixture, adding a resin material to the composite mixture to produce an epoxy graphene material, coating a structure with the epoxy graphene material, aligning the graphene sheets in the in-plane orientation, and curing the epoxy graphene material.

Abstract: A bilayer object consisting of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer substrate coated with a composition of matter comprising horizontally aligned exfoliated graphene sheets dispersed in an epoxy binder. A method includes depositing graphene into a hardener, mixing the hardener and the graphene to produce a homogenous composite mixture, adding a resin material to the composite mixture to produce an epoxy graphene material, coating a structure with the epoxy graphene material, aligning the graphene sheets in the in-plane orientation, and curing the epoxy graphene material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a radiative cooling formulation, an apparatus including a substrate coated with the radiative cooling formulation, and a method of applying a coating of the radiative cooling formulation to an object. In one implementation, a radiative cooling formulation includes a binder which includes a first polymer and a second polymer that are practically water insoluble and are substantially non-absorbing to light having wavelengths in a solar spectrum. The radiative cooling formulation further includes a solar reflector material embedded in the binder.

Abstract: A bilayer object consisting of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer substrate coated with a composition of matter comprising horizontally aligned exfoliated graphene sheets dispersed in an epoxy binder. A method includes depositing graphene into a hardener, mixing the hardener and the graphene to produce a homogenous composite mixture, adding a resin material to the composite mixture to produce an epoxy graphene material, coating a structure with the epoxy graphene material, aligning the graphene sheets in the in-plane orientation, and curing the epoxy graphene material.