Kucheyev, S. O.Baumann, T. F.Cox, C. A.Wang, Y. M.Satcher, J. H.Hamza, A. V.Bradby, J. E.2015-11-042015-11-040003-6951http://hdl.handle.net/1885/16334Potential of aerogels for technological applications is often limited by their poor mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate that alumina aerogel monoliths with excellent mechanical properties can be made by controlling the crystallographic phase, shape, and size of nanoligaments. In particular, we show that thermal processing of aerogels with a morphology of interconnected nanoleaflets causes dehydration and associated curling of the nanoleaflets, resulting in a dramatic improvement of mechanical properties. This study shows an effective way to control mechanical properties of the nanoporous solids that can be synthesized with ligaments having a quasi-two-dimensional shape, such as platelets, ribbons, or leaflets.Work at the ANU was supported by the ARC.http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0003-6951..."Publishers version/PDF may be used on author's personal website, institutional website or institutional repository" from SHERPA/RoMEO site (as at 3/11/15). Copyright 2006 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Applied Physics Letters and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2236222Keywords: Nanoligaments; Nanoporous solids; Platelets; Quasi-two-dimensional shape; Alumina; Crystallography; Foams; Nanotechnology; Synthesis (chemical); Aerogels2006-07-2610.1063/1.22362222015-12-08