Ultrathin Biomimetic Polymeric Ti₃C₂T_<i>x</i> MXene Composite Films for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

TLDR

Lightweight, ultrathin, flexible electromagnetic‑interference shielding materials with high shielding effectiveness and mechanical robustness are highly desired for miniaturized electronics. The study designs a freestanding, ultrathin, flexible Ti₃C₂Tₓ/PEDOT:PSS composite film with a brick‑and‑mortar structure. The film is fabricated by vacuum‑assisted filtration. The 11.1‑μm‑thick composite achieves an EMI SE of 42.10 dB, a tensile strength of 13.71 MPa, a strain of 0.29 %, a conductivity of 340.5 S cm⁻¹, and a specific EMI shielding efficiency of 19 497.8 dB cm² g⁻¹, demonstrating its potential as an ultrathin, lightweight, flexible EMI shield.

Abstract

Lightweight, ultrathin, and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) and excellent mechanical robustness are greatly desired for miniaturized and highly integrated electronics. Herein, for the first time, a freestanding, ultrathin, and flexible Ti3C2Tx/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite film with a "brick-and-mortar" structure is biomimetically designed and fabricated via a vacuum-assisted filtration process. The ultrathin polymeric composite film with a weight ratio 7:1 of Ti3C2Tx to PEDOT:PSS is only 11.1 μm in thickness but exhibits a high EMI SE value of 42.10 dB. Meanwhile, the tensile strength increases considerably from 5.62 to 13.71 MPa and the corresponding ruptured strain increases from 0.18 to 0.29% compared with pure Ti3C2Tx MXene film, respectively. Moreover, the hybrid film displays a superior conductivity of 340.5 S/cm and an outstanding specific EMI shielding efficiency of 19 497.8 dB cm2 g–1. The superior electrical conductivity and specific EMI shielding efficiency imply the excellent potential of the Ti3C2Tx/PEDOT:PSS composite films for ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible EMI shielding materials.