Lightweight\nand Easily Foldable MCMB-MWCNTs Composite Paper with Exceptional Electromagnetic\nInterference Shielding

Abstract

Lightweight and easily foldable with\nhigh conductivity, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based mesocarbon\nmicrobead (MCMB) composite paper is prepared using a simple, efficient,\nand cost-effective strategy. The developed lightweight and conductive\ncomposite paper have been reported for the first time as an efficient\nelectromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material in X-band frequency\nregion having a low density of 0.26 g/cm³. The investigation\nrevealed that composite paper shows an excellent absorption dominated\nEMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of −31 to −56 dB at\n0.15–0.6 mm thickness, respectively. Specific EMI-SE of as\nhigh as −215 dB cm³/g exceeds the best values of\nmetal and other low-density carbon-based composites. Additionally,\nlightweight and easily foldable ability of this composite paper will\nhelp in providing stable EMI shielding values even after constant\nbending. Such intriguing performances open the framework to designing\na lightweight and easily foldable composite paper as promising EMI\nshielding material, especially in next-generation devices and for\ndefense industries.