Structured Reduced Graphene Oxide/Polymer Composites for Ultra‐Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

TLDR

A high‑pressure solid‑phase compression molding of reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene creates a multi‑facet segregated architecture that confines rGO to interfaces, providing many interfaces to absorb electromagnetic waves while reducing rGO loading. The resulting composite achieves a shielding effectiveness of 45.1 dB with only 3.47 vol % rGO, the highest among rGO‑based polymer composites, and shows 94 % and 40 % increases in compressive strength and modulus at 350 MPa, demonstrating an economical, robust, and highly efficient EMI shielding material.

Abstract

A high‐performance electromagnetic interference shielding composite based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and polystyrene (PS) is realized via high‐pressure solid‐phase compression molding. Superior shielding effectiveness of 45.1 dB, the highest value among rGO based polymer composite, is achieved with only 3.47 vol% rGO loading owning to multi‐facet segregated architecture with rGO selectively located on the boundaries among PS multi‐facets. This special architecture not only provides many interfaces to absorb the electromagnetic waves, but also dramatically reduces the loading of rGO by confining the rGO at the interfaces. Moreover, the mechanical strength of the segregated composite is dramatically enhanced using high pressure at 350 MPa, overcoming the major disadvantage of the composite made by conventional‐pressure (5 MPa). The composite prepared by the higher pressure shows 94% and 40% increment in compressive strength and compressive modulus, respectively. These results demonstrate a promising method to fabricate an economical, robust, and highly efficient EMI shielding material.