Facile and Green Process to Synthesize a Three-Dimensional Network Few-Layer Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Composite for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Yu-Hong Yeh; Kuei-Ting Hsu; Chia-Hung Huang; Wei-Ren Liu

doi:10.3390/polym14091892

Facile and Green Process to Synthesize a Three-Dimensional Network Few-Layer Graphene/Carbon Nanotube Composite for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Polymers (Basel). 2022 May 5;14(9):1892. doi: 10.3390/polym14091892.

Authors

Yu-Hong Yeh¹, Kuei-Ting Hsu², Chia-Hung Huang^{3

4}, Wei-Ren Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, 200 Chung Pei Road, Chungli District, Taoyuan City 320, Taiwan.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, Army Academy, No.750, Longdong Rd., Chung-Li 320, Taiwan.
³ Department of Electrical Engineering, National University of Tainan, No.33, Sec. 2, Shulin St., West Central District, Tainan City 700, Taiwan.
⁴ Metal Industries Research and Development Centre, Kaohsiung 701, Taiwan.

Abstract

We propose an environmentally friendly liquid exfoliation approach and subsequent freeze-drying process for constructing a three-dimensional (3D) carbon-based network by using few-layer graphene (FLG) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. Systematic characterizations-such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy-as well as Raman characterization and EMI shielding tests were performed. The results indicated that the as-synthesized 3D-FLG/CNT composite obtained through the freeze-drying process exhibited excellent electromagnetic interference shielding. The shielding effect of FLG could be improved from 15 to 22 dB by introducing CNTs. The CNTs inhibited restacking of FLG in the structure. We also compared two drying processes: oven drying and freeze-drying. The freeze-drying technique markedly improved the shielding effect of FLG/CNTs from 22 to 36 dB. The composition-optimized 3D-FLG/CNT composite could be a candidate material for use in EMI shielding.

Keywords: carbon nanotubes; electromagnetic interference shielding; graphene.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Ministry of Science and Technology [MOST 109-2923-E-006-006, 110-2622-M-033-001, 109-2622-E-033-010, 110-2923-E-006-011, 110-3116-F-011-002, and 108-E-033-MY3].