Lightweight, compressible, and stretchable composite foams for ultra-efficient and high-stable electromagnetic interference shielding materials

• Published in: Carbon (New York) 2023-11, Vol.215, p.118480, Article 118480
• Main Authors: Luo, Yi, Guo, Yabin, Wei, Chen, Chen, Jianwen, Zhao, Guiyan, Yuan, Qiang, Zhu, Yutian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Conductive composite foam; Electromagnetic interference shielding; Ferric trichloride; Polyvinyl pyrrolidone
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2023.118480

Lightweight, flexible, high-stable and ultra-efficient electromagnetic shielding materials are the extremely desired materials for electronic devices and products. In this paper, a lightweight, compressible, and stretchable ferric trichloride (FeCl3)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polyurethane (PU) composite foam with ultra-efficient electromagnetic interference shielding is fabricated by the chemical foaming method and subsequent ultrasound assisted loading of conductive layer onto PU skeleton. The as-prepared FeCl3/CNTs/PVP/PU composite foam with a density of 40 mg/cm3 possesses ultrahigh electromagnetic interference shielding properties at X-band (∼91.5 dB at 12.4 GHz) attributed to the unique porous structure to dissipate electromagnetic wave as well as the synergistic shielding effect of FeCl3 and CNTs. More importantly, the ultra-efficient electromagnetic shielding performance can still remain even after subjected to water-washing, long-term cyclic compression or high/low temperature treatment because the addition of PVP can greatly enhance the interaction between CNTs and PU skeleton. The current work proposes a simple and scalable method to fabricate ultra-efficient electromagnetic interference shielding materials for wearable and portable electronic devices. [Display omitted] •A composite foam possessing ultra-efficient electromagnetic shielding performance (∼91.5 dB at 12.4 GHz) was prepared.•The composite foam exhibits an ultrahigh specific shielding efficiency value of 2287.5 dB cm3 g−1.•The composite foam shows excellent absorption ability to electromagnetic waves.•The composite foam has the merits of lightweight, stretchability, compressibility, and electromagnetic shielding stability.