Ultralight and Mechanically Robust Ti₃C₂T<i>_x</i> Hybrid Aerogel Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

TLDR

Lightweight materials with high electrical conductivity and robust mechanical properties are highly desirable for electromagnetic interference shielding in modern portable and highly integrated electronics. The authors aim to fabricate a 3D porous Ti₃C₂Tₓ/carbon nanotube hybrid aerogel via bidirectional freezing for lightweight EMI shielding. Bidirectional freezing creates a lamellar‑porous structure that endows the aerogel with high electrical conductivity and superior EMI shielding effectiveness. The MXene/CNT hybrid aerogel achieves 9.43 S cm⁻¹ conductivity and a record 103.9 dB EMI shielding effectiveness at 3 mm thickness in the X‑band, while CNT reinforcement boosts the compressional modulus by.

Abstract

Lightweight materials with high electrical conductivity and robust mechanical properties are highly desirable for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding in modern portable and highly integrated electronics. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) porous Ti3C2Tx/carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid aerogel was fabricated via a bidirectional freezing method for lightweight EMI shielding application. The synergism of the lamellar and porous structure of the MXene/CNT hybrid aerogels contributed extensively to their excellent electrical conductivity (9.43 S cm-1) and superior electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) value of 103.9 dB at 3 mm thickness at the X-band frequency, the latter of which is the best value reported for synthetic porous nanomaterials. The CNT reinforcement in the MXene/CNT hybrid aerogels enhanced the mechanical robustness and increased the compressional modulus by 9661% relative to that of the pristine MXene aerogel. The hybrid aerogel with high electrical conductivity, good mechanical strength, and superior EMI shielding performance is a promising material for inhibiting EMI pollution.