Function implementation: Reengineering application scenarios for textiles 
The porous structure and functional modulability of aerogel fibers enable them to be applied in textiles in a multi-level manner, achieving "thermal insulation enhancement + functional integration + intelligent response", covering core areas such as outdoor, medical, and household applications. 
(1) Ultimate Thermal Insulation: A Paradigm Shift in Lightweight Protection Scenarios 
In the field of thermal insulation and heat preservation, aerogel fibers have redefined industry standards with their "low thermal conductivity + lightweight" characteristics. Their low-temperature insulation performance is 2.8 times that of cotton fabric, and they can still function stably within the extreme temperature range of -196℃ to 1100℃. In outdoor clothing, the aerogel composite filler-made thermal insulation suits can stabilize the body surface temperature at 32℃ in a -20℃ environment, reducing the weight by 40% compared to traditional down jackets, and also possess waterproof and breathable properties, solving the pain points of traditional thermal fabrics such as "bulkiness and poor breathability". This advantage has extended from outdoor exploration to professional fields, becoming an important component of the thermal protection layer of spacesuits and also being applied in extreme cold operation protective suits. 
In the home textile industry, the thermal insulation materials such as the "Thermal Aerospace Warm Fleece" made of aerogel fibers have demonstrated the potential to replace traditional materials in warm bedding and mattresses. Their ultra-lightweight characteristics and long-lasting insulation properties enhance the comfort experience of home products. 
(2) Intelligent Response: The Flexible Breakthrough of Wearable Technology 
The porous structure of aerogel fibers provides a natural carrier for functional molecule loading, giving rise to a new form of intelligent textiles. The team from Tianjin University was inspired by the "salt absorption-salt secretion" mechanism of plants in saline-alkali land. They developed a molecular solar thermal fabric, which loads azobenzene molecules onto air-gel fibers. Under 420nm blue light irradiation, it can increase in temperature by 25.5℃ within 70 seconds, and in a -20℃ low-temperature environment, it can increase in temperature by 21.2℃ within 50 seconds. Moreover, its heat storage performance remains stable even after repeated washing. It can be used for daily warmth preservation and also provide local heat therapy for patients with arthritis. 
In the field of wearable electronics, the high conductivity of graphene and aerogel fibers is fully utilized, enabling the production of flexible conductive yarns, which can be used in lightweight conductive cables, energy storage fabrics, etc. The cellulose aerogel microfibers prepared by ROSTAMITABAR M and others, by loading model drugs, form fiber networks that show great potential in the biomedical field such as wound dressings. Their biocompatibility and porous drug release characteristics can enhance the infection control effect. In addition, the new family of functional fibers includes thermochromic temperature sensing fibers and intelligent phase change temperature-regulating fibers, further expanding the application boundaries of intelligent textiles. 
Challenges and Prospects: The Future of Industries Driven by Technological Deepening 
Although the industrialization of aerogel fibers has achieved significant breakthroughs, the development of the industry still faces multiple challenges: the control of fiber uniformity in continuous production, the optimization of the balance between high porosity and mechanical strength, and the customized preparation techniques for different functional requirements. These are still issues that both the scientific research and industrial communities need to continuously overcome. Moreover, how to further reduce the production cost of high-end functional aerogel fibers and achieve the synergy between large-scale application and performance improvement will determine the speed of its market penetration. 
From the perspective of development prospects, China has established a triple advantage in the field of aerogel fibers: a cumulative total of over 500 related patents, covering the entire technical chain; the international standards led by the National Nano Technology Standardization Technical Committee are expected to be released in 2026; and complete industrial clusters from aerogel powder to end products have been formed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong regions. With the promotion of new quality productive force cultivation policies, aerogel fibers are expected to drive the textile industry to shift from "scale expansion" to "technological deepening" and "scenario innovation", driven by dual forces of "technological research" and "scenario innovation". 
In the future, with the continuous upgrading of composite technologies, aerogel fibers will achieve more functional integration - such as "thermal insulation + antibacterial + sensing" integrated medical protective suits, and "optical heat conversion + radiation cooling" intelligent temperature control clothing, etc. This development path that deeply combines the characteristics of nanomaterials with textile technology will not only reshape the market landscape of functional textiles, but also is expected to usher in a new era of textiles where "materials determine functions".