Facile fabrication of superflexible and thermal insulating phenolic aerogels backboned by silicone networks

•One-pot synthesis and ambient pressure drying enable a facile strategy for preparation.•The hierarchical nano-micro-spherical structure brings multifunctional features.•The PRAs with silicone backbones show highly-flexibility with good fatigue-resistance.•The PRAs exhibits interesting and superior thermal insulating performance.