Compressible and Stretchable Aerogels: Construction Strategies and Applications in Personal Thermal Management and Wearable Electronics

Abstract

Mechanically compliant aerogels are increasingly important for wearable systems that require lightweight porous materials to retain function under repeated deformation. However, compressibility and stretchability impose different structural demands and should not be treated as equivalent manifestations of flexibility. This review provides a loading-mode-specific framework of compressible and stretchable aerogels. It summarizes how network chemistry, interfacial interactions, and multiscale architectures govern deformation, recovery, strength, and fatigue resistance under compression and tension. The relationships between these mechanical characteristics and thermal, spectral, and electrical functions are subsequently discussed in the context of wearable personal thermal management sensors, biosensors, and flexible energy-storage devices. Finally, current challenges are summarized in terms of mechanical–functional balancing, long-term durability, and scalable fabrication, providing guidance for the future development of mechanically reliable aerogel-based wearable materials.