Ultralight and Mechanically Robust Ti3C2T x Hybrid Aerogel Reinforced by Carbon Nanotubes for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Pradeep Sambyal; Aamir Iqbal; Junpyo Hong; Hyerim Kim; Myung-Ki Kim; Soon Man Hong; Meikang Han; Yury Gogotsi; Chong Min Koo

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b12550

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

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 Oct 16;11(41):38046-38054. doi: 10.1021/acsami.9b12550. Epub 2019 Oct 4.

Authors

Pradeep Sambyal¹, Aamir Iqbal^{1

2}, Junpyo Hong¹, Hyerim Kim^{1

3}, Myung-Ki Kim³, Soon Man Hong¹, Meikang Han⁴, Yury Gogotsi⁴, Chong Min Koo^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Materials Architecturing Research Center , Korea Institute of Science and Technology , Hwarangno 14-gil 5 , Seongbuk Gu, Seoul 02792 , Republic of Korea.
² Nanomaterials Science and Engineering , University of Science and Technology , 217 Gajungro, 176 Gajung-dong , Yuseong Gu, Daejeon 34113 , Republic of Korea.
³ KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology , Korea University , Anam-ro 145 , Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea.
⁴ A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering , Drexel University , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States.

PMID: 31509378
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b12550

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 Ti₃C₂T_x/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.

Keywords: MXene; carbon nanotube; electromagnetic wave shielding; hybrid aerogel; three-dimensional foam.