High-Performance and Reliable Silver Nanotube Networks for Efficient and Large-Scale Transparent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Apr 7;13(13):15525-15535. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c00590. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Abstract

The development of flexible and transparent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with excellent comprehensive properties is urgently demanded as visual windows and display devices in aeronautic, industry, medical, and research facilities. However, the method of how to obtain highly efficient and reliable transparent EMI shielding devices is still facing lots of obstacles. Here, a high-performance silver nanotube (AgNT) network with stable and integrated interconnects is prepared by physical depositing technology, based on a uniform and large-scale nanofiber skeleton. This unique structure enables the AgNT network to achieve one order higher conductivity (∼1.0 Ω/sq at >90% transmittance) than previous research studies and keeps <10% variation with random deformations (>5000 times). Moreover, the manufactured AgNT shielding film with a thickness of less than 1 mm can be easily transferred to arbitrary surfaces as a transparent and flexible EMI shielding film at commercial ∼35 dB EMI shielding effectiveness, with large-scale, low-cost, and simple preparation processes. These excellent properties endow the AgNT shielding film to achieve great potential for future flexible and transparent scenarios.

Keywords: electromagnetic interference shielding; electrospinning; flexible; nanotube network; transparent.