Mechanical properties of silica aerogels controlled by synthesis parameters

•Gelation time of sol-gel materials is firmly dependent on synthesis parameters.•Synthesis conditions control the structural properties of native SiO2 aerogels.•SiO2 network structure reflect in the mechanical nature of both gels and aerogels.•Elasticity of aerogels can be changed by density and also mass spatial distribution.•Catalyst influences the Young's modulus strongly but without changes in density.