MXene composite could eliminate electromagnetic interference by absorbing it

 

International Conferences on Composite Materials

https://composite-materials-conferences.sciencefather.com/

Award Nomination - https://x-i.me/compram1

Award Registration - https://x-i.me/compreg1

Abstract Submission - https://x-i.me/compabst2

Conference Registration - https://x-i.me/compreg2

MXene composite could eliminate electromagnetic interference by absorbing it

A recent discovery by materials science researchers in Drexel University's College of Engineering might one day prevent electronic devices and components from going haywire when they're too close to one another. A special coating that they developed, using a type of two-dimensional material called MXene, has shown to be capable of absorbing and disbursing the electromagnetic fields that are the source of the problem.

While researchers and technologists have progressively reduced this problem with each generation of devices, their strategy thus far has been to encase vital components with a shielding that deflects electromagnetic waves. But according to the Drexel team, this isn't a sustainable solution.

"Because the number of electronics devices will continue to grow, deflecting the electromagnetic waves they produce is really just a short-term solution," said Yury Gogotsi, Ph.D., Distinguished University and Bach professor in the College of Engineering, who led the research. "To truly solve this problem, we need to develop materials that will absorb and dissipate the interference. We believe we have found just such a material."

In the recent edition of Cell Reports Physical Science, Gogotsi's team reported that combining MXene, a two-dimensional material they discovered more than a decade ago, with a conductive element called vanadium in a polymer solution, produces a coating that can absorb electromagnetic waves.

While researchers have previously demonstrated that MXenes are highly effective at warding off electromagnetic interference by reflecting it, adding vanadium carbide in a polymer matrix enhances two key characteristics of the material that improve its shielding performance.

According to the researchers, adding vanadium to MXene structure—a material known for its durability and corrosion-resistant properties, that is used in steel alloys for space vehicles and nuclear reactors—causes layers of the Mxene to form in sort of electrochemical grid that is perfect for trapping ions. Using microwave-transparent polymer, makes the material also more permeable to the electromagnetic waves.

Combined, these properties produce a coating that can absorb, entrap and dissipate the energy of electromagnetic waves at greater than 90% efficiency, according to the research.

"Remarkably, combining polyurethane, a common polymer used in common wall paint, with a tiny amount of MXene filler—about one part MXene in 50 parts polyurethane—can absorb more than 90% of incident electromagnetic waves covering the entire band of radar frequencies—known as X-band frequencies," said Meikang Han, Ph.D., who participated in the research as a post-doctoral researcher at Drexel. "Radio waves just disappear inside the MXene-polymer composite film—of course, nothing disappears completely, the energy of the waves is transformed to a very small amount of heat which is easily dissipated by the material."