Fe3O4 uniformly decorated reduced graphene oxide aerogel for epoxy nanocomposites with high EMI shielding performance

• Published in: Composites communications 2022-12, Vol.36, p.101391, Article 101391
• Main Authors: Yang, Xueqin, Zhang, Yifan, Luo, Jiamei, Tusiime, Rogers, Lu, Chengzhi, Xue, Yi, Zhou, Jinli, Liu, Yong, Zhang, Hui, Yu, Jianyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electromagnetic interference shielding; Epoxy resin; Fe3O4 nanoparticles; Graphene oxide; Mechanical properties
• ISSN: 2452-2139; 2452-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.coco.2022.101391

This work reports the successful fabrication of Fe3O4@anisotropic reduced graphene oxide aerogel/epoxy (Fe3O4@AGA/EP) nanocomposites, with outstanding electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance and mechanical properties. One-step hydrothermal reduction reaction and unidirectional freezing approach were utilized in order to avoid the agglomeration of Fe3O4 and graphene oxide (GO). The Fe3O4@AGA/EP nanocomposites were subsequently obtained by freeze-drying, annealing treatment, EP infiltration and curing processes. Due to the synergistic effect of the Fe3O4 (with magnetic and dielectric loss properties) and the three-dimensional AGA framework (presents high electrical conductivity), the EMI shielding efficiency of Fe3O4@AGA/EP nanocomposites reached 40.4 dB along the radial direction when the mass ratio of FeSO4: GO was 2:1. Simultaneously, an enhanced storage modulus of 116% was exhibited compared with that of the pure EP. Moreover, the nanocomposites showed absorption-dominated EMI shielding characteristics, which is significant for the reduction of secondary pollution of electromagnetic waves. This research provides a one-step hydrothermal reduction method to address the agglomeration of Fe3O4 and GO in EP and prepare EP-based composites with high EMI shielding performance and mechanical properties. •3D Fe3O4@AGA framework is constructed through a one-step hydrothermal reduction reaction and unidirectional freezing to avoid the aggregation of Fe3O4 and graphene oxide.•Obtaining a uniformly dispersed Fe3O4@AGA/EP nanocomposite with excellent EMI shielding performance and elevated mechanical properties.•The Fe3O4@AGA/EP are typical absorption-dominated EMI shielding nanocomposites, with a desirable characteristic of the reduction of secondary pollution of EMW.