3D Printed Integrated Gradient-Conductive MXene/CNT/Polyimide Aerogel Frames for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding with Ultra-Low Reflection

Nanomicro Lett. 2023 Feb 8;15(1):45. doi: 10.1007/s40820-023-01017-5.

Abstract

Construction of advanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with miniaturized, programmable structure and low reflection are promising but challenging. Herein, an integrated transition-metal carbides/carbon nanotube/polyimide (gradient-conductive MXene/CNT/PI, GCMCP) aerogel frame with hierarchical porous structure and gradient-conductivity has been constructed to achieve EMI shielding with ultra-low reflection. The gradient-conductive structures are obtained by continuous 3D printing of MXene/CNT/poly (amic acid) inks with different CNT contents, where the slightly conductive top layer serves as EM absorption layer and the highly conductive bottom layer as reflection layer. In addition, the hierarchical porous structure could extend the EM dissipation path and dissipate EM by multiple reflections. Consequently, the GCMCP aerogel frames exhibit an excellent average EMI shielding efficiency (68.2 dB) and low reflection (R = 0.23). Furthermore, the GCMCP aerogel frames with miniaturized and programmable structures can be used as EMI shielding gaskets and effectively block wireless power transmission, which shows a prosperous application prospect in defense industry and aerospace.

Keywords: 3D printing; Electromagnetic interference shielding; Gradient-conductive; MXene/CNT/Polyimide aerogel.