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Nano Research 2024, 17(5): 3462-3471 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6349-8
Research Article | Issue | Published: 14 February 2024

Ultra-thin robust CNT@GC film integrating effective electromagnetic shielding and flexible Joule heating

Show Author's Information Ding Zhang1,  Chunhui Wang2,  Meng Li1,3,  Weixue Meng1,  Shipeng Zhang1,  Mengdan Yang1,  Xinguang Huang1,  Yingjiu Zhang1,  Yuanyuan Shang1( ),  Anyuan Cao3
Key Laboratory of Materials Physics (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
Electron Microscopy Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Keywords:
core–shell structure, Joule heating, ultra-thin lightweight film, robust film, electromagnetic shielding
Topics:
Carbon composites
Cite this article:
Zhang D, Wang C, Li M, et al. Ultra-thin robust CNT@GC film integrating effective electromagnetic shielding and flexible Joule heating. Nano Research, 2024, 17(5): 3462-3471. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-023-6349-8
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

The demand for lightweight, thin electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding film materials with high shielding effectiveness (SE), excellent mechanical properties, and stability in complex environments is particularly pronounced in the realm of flexible and portable electronic products. Here, we developed an ultra-thin film (CNT@GC) in which the glassy carbon (GC) layer wrapped around and welded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form a core–shell network structure, leading to exceptional tensile strength (327.2 MPa) and electrical conductivity (2.87 × 105 S·m−1). The CNT@GC film achieved EMI SE of 60 dB at a thickness of 2 μm after post-acid treatment and high specific SE of 3.49 × 105 dB·cm2·g−1, with comprehensive properties surpassing those of the majority of previous shielding materials. Additionally, the CNT@GC film exhibited Joule heating capability, reaching a surface temperature of 135 °C at 3 V with a fast thermal response of about 0.5 s, enabling anti-icing/de-icing functionality. This work presented a methodology for constructing a robust CNT@GC film with high EMI shielding performance and exceptional Joule heating capability, demonstrating immense potential in wearable devices, defense, and aerospace applications.


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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Ultra-thin robust CNT@GC film integrating effective electromagnetic shielding and flexible Joule heating

Show Author's information Ding Zhang1, Chunhui Wang2, Meng Li1,3, Weixue Meng1, Shipeng Zhang1, Mengdan Yang1, Xinguang Huang1, Yingjiu Zhang1, Yuanyuan Shang1( ), Anyuan Cao3
Key Laboratory of Materials Physics (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
Electron Microscopy Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Abstract

The demand for lightweight, thin electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding film materials with high shielding effectiveness (SE), excellent mechanical properties, and stability in complex environments is particularly pronounced in the realm of flexible and portable electronic products. Here, we developed an ultra-thin film (CNT@GC) in which the glassy carbon (GC) layer wrapped around and welded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form a core–shell network structure, leading to exceptional tensile strength (327.2 MPa) and electrical conductivity (2.87 × 105 S·m−1). The CNT@GC film achieved EMI SE of 60 dB at a thickness of 2 μm after post-acid treatment and high specific SE of 3.49 × 105 dB·cm2·g−1, with comprehensive properties surpassing those of the majority of previous shielding materials. Additionally, the CNT@GC film exhibited Joule heating capability, reaching a surface temperature of 135 °C at 3 V with a fast thermal response of about 0.5 s, enabling anti-icing/de-icing functionality. This work presented a methodology for constructing a robust CNT@GC film with high EMI shielding performance and exceptional Joule heating capability, demonstrating immense potential in wearable devices, defense, and aerospace applications.

Keywords: core–shell structure, Joule heating, ultra-thin lightweight film, robust film, electromagnetic shielding

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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 11 September 2023
Revised: 04 November 2023
Accepted: 19 November 2023
Published: 14 February 2024
Issue date: May 2024

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2024

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2020YFA0210702), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51872267), the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province, China (No. 202300410371), and Program for Science & Technology Innovation Talents in Universities of Henan Province (No. 21HASTIT017). The authors thank the National Supercomputing Center in Zhengzhou and the Center of Advanced Analysis & Gene Sequencing of Zhengzhou University for their support.

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