Bioinspired, High-Strength, and Flexible MXene/Aramid Fiber for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Papers with Joule Heating Performance

Modulating Electrochemical Energy Storage and Multi-Spectra Defense of MXenes by Interfacial Dual-Filler Engineering

MXenes have attracted growing interest in electrochemical energy storage owing to their high electronic conductivity and editable surface chemistry. Besides, rendering MXenes with spectrum defense properties further broadens their versatile applications. However, the development of MXenes suffers from weak van der Waal interaction-driven self-restacking that leads to random alignment and inferior interface microenvironments. Herein, a nacre-inspired MXene film is tailored by dual-filling of 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy)-modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-UPy) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The dual-nanofillers engineering endows the nanocomposite film with a highly ordered structure (a Herman's order value of 0.838), a high mechanical strength (139.5 MPa), and continuous conductive pathways of both the ab plane and c-axis. As a proof-of-concept, the tailored nanocomposite film achieves a considerable capacitance of 508.2 F cm-3 and long-term cycling stability without performance degradation for 10 000 cycles. It is efficient for spectra defense in radar and infrared bands, displaying a high electromagnetic shielding capacity (19186 dB cm2 g-1) and a super-low infrared (IR) emissivity (0.16), with negligible performance decay after saving in the air for 1 year, responsible for the applications in specific and complex conditions. This interfacial dual-filler engineering concept showcases effective nanotechnology toward sustainable energy applications with a long lifetime and safety.

Ultrafine Aramid Nanofiber-Assisted Large-Area Dense Stacking of MXene Films for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Multisource Thermal Conversion

Polymers are often used as adhesives to improve the mechanical properties of flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layered films, but the introduction of these insulating adhesives inevitably reduces the EMI performance. Herein, ultrafine aramid nanofibers (UANF) with a diameter of only 2.44 nm were used as the binder to effectively infiltrate and minimize the insulating gaps in MXene films, for balancing the EMI shielding and mechanical properties. Combining the evaporation-induced scalable assembly assisted by blade coating, flexible large-scale MXene/UANF films with highly aligned and compact MXene stacking are successfully fabricated. Compared with the conventional ANF with a larger diameter of 7.05 nm, the UANF-reinforced MXene film exhibits a "brick-mortar" structure with higher orientation and compacter stacking MXene nanosheets, thus showing the higher mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and EMI shielding performance. By optimizing MXene content, the MXene/UANF film can achieve the optimal tensile strength of 156.9 MPa, a toughness of 2.9 MJ m-3, satisfactory EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 40.7 dB, and specific EMI SE (SSE/t) of 22782.4 dB cm2/g). Moreover, the composite film exhibits multisource thermal conversion functions including Joule heating and photothermal conversion. Therefore, the multifunctional MXene/UANF EMI shielding film with flexibility, foldability, and robust mechanical properties shows the practical potential in complex application environments.

MXene-based fibers: Preparation, applications, and prospects

With the vigorous development and huge demand for portable wearable devices, wearable electronics based on functional fibers continue to emerge in a wide range of energy storage, motion monitoring, disease prevention, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, etc. MXene, as an emerging two-dimensional inorganic compound, has shown great potential in functional fiber manufacturing and has attracted much research attention due to its own good mechanical properties, high electrical conductivity, excellent electrochemical properties and favorable processability. Herein, this paper reviews recent advances of MXene-based fibers. Speaking to MXene dispersions, the properties of MXene dispersions including dispersion stability, rheological properties and liquid crystalline properties are highlighted. The preparation techniques used to produce MXene-based fibers and application progress regarding MXene-based fibers into supercapacitors, sensors, EMI shielding and Joule heaters are summarized. Challenges and prospects surrounding the development of MXene-based fibers are proposed in future. This review aims to provide processing guidelines for MXene-based fiber manufacturing, thereby achieving more possibilities of MXene-based fibers in advanced applications with a view to injecting more vitality into the field of smart wearables.

Ultrastrong MXene film induced by sequential bridging with liquid metal

Assembling titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene nanosheets into macroscopic films presents challenges, including voids, low orientation degree, and weak interfacial interactions, which reduce mechanical performance. We demonstrate an ultrastrong macroscopic MXene film using liquid metal (LM) and bacterial cellulose (BC) to sequentially bridge MXene nanosheets (an LBM film), achieving a tensile strength of 908.4 megapascals. A layer-by-layer approach using repeated cycles of blade coating improves the orientation degree to 0.935 in the LBM film, while a LM with good deformability reduces voids into porosity of 5.4%. The interfacial interactions are enhanced by the hydrogen bonding from BC and the coordination bonding with LM, which improves the stress-transfer efficiency. Sequential bridging provides an avenue for assembling other two-dimensional nanosheets into high-performance materials.

Superspreading-Based Fabrication of Thermostable Nanoporous Polyimide Membranes for High Safety Separators of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The development of thermally stable separators is a promising approach to address the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to the serious shrinkage of commercial polyolefin separators at elevated temperatures. However, achieving controlled nanopores with a uniform size distribution in thermostable polymeric separators and high electrochemical performance is still a great challenge. In this study, nanoporous polyimide (PI) membranes with excellent thermal stability as high-safety separators is developed for LIBs using a superspreading strategy. The superspreading of polyamic acid solutions enables the generation of thin and uniform liquid layers, facilitating the formation of thin PI membranes with controllable and uniform nanopores with narrow size distribution ranging from 121 ± 5 nm to 86 ± 6 nm. Such nanoporous PI membranes display excellent structural stability at elevated temperatures up to 300 °C for at least 1 h. LIBs assembled with nanoporous PI membranes as separators show high specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency and can work normally after transient treatment at a high temperature (150 °C for 20 min) and high ambient temperature, indicating their promising application as high-safety separators for rechargeable batteries.

A Breathable Fibrous Membrane with Coaxially Heterogeneous Conductive Networks toward Personal Thermal Management and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The expeditious growth of wearable electronic devices has boomed the development of versatile smart textiles for personal health-related applications. In practice, integrated high-performance systems still face challenges of compromised breathability, high cost, and complicated manufacturing processes. Herein, a breathable fibrous membrane with dual-driven heating and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance is developed through a facile process of electrospinning followed by targeted conformal deposition. The approach constructs a robust hierarchically coaxial heterostructure consisting of elastic polymers as supportive "core" and dual-conductive components of polypyrrole and copper sulfide (CuS) nanosheets as continuous "sheath" at the fiber level. The CuS nanosheets with metal-like electrical conductivity demonstrate the promising potential to substitute the expensive conductive nano-materials with a complex fabricating process. The as-prepared fibrous membrane exhibits high electrical conductivity (70.38 S cm-1), exceptional active heating effects, including solar heating (saturation temperature of 69.7 °C at 1 sun) and Joule heating (75.2 °C at 2.9 V), and impressive EMI shielding performance (50.11 dB in the X-band), coupled with favorable air permeability (161.4 mm s-1 at 200 Pa) and efficient water vapor transmittance (118.9 g m-2 h). This work opens up a new avenue to fabricate versatile wearable devices for personal thermal management and health protection.

Enhancing Low-Frequency Microwave Absorption Through Structural Polarization Modulation of MXenes

Two-dimensional carbon-based materials have shown promising electromagnetic wave absorption capabilities in mid- and high-frequency ranges, but face challenges in low-frequency absorption due to limited control over polarization response mechanisms and ambiguous resonance behavior. In this study, we propose a novel approach to enhance absorption efficiency in aligned three-dimensional (3D) MXene/CNF (cellulose nanofibers) cavities by modifying polarization properties and manipulating resonance response in the 3D MXene architecture. This controlled polarization mechanism results in a significant shift of the main absorption region from the X-band to the S-band, leading to a remarkable reflection loss value of - 47.9 dB in the low-frequency range. Furthermore, our findings revealed the importance of the oriented electromagnetic coupling in influencing electromagnetic response and microwave absorption properties. The present study inspired us to develop a generic strategy for low-frequency tuned absorption in the absence of magnetic element participation, while orientation-induced polarization and the derived magnetic resonance coupling are the key controlling factors of the method.

2D Materials-Based Thermal Interface Materials: Structure, Properties, and Applications

The challenges associated with heat dissipation in high-power electronic devices used in communication, new energy, and aerospace equipment have spurred an urgent need for high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs) to establish efficient heat transfer pathways from the heater (chip) to heat sinks. Recently, emerging 2D materials, such as graphene and boron nitride, renowned for their ultrahigh basal-plane thermal conductivity and the capacity to facilitate cross-scale, multi-morphic structural design, have found widespread use as thermal fillers in the production of high-performance TIMs. To deepen the understanding of 2D material-based TIMs, this review focuses primarily on graphene and boron nitride-based TIMs, exploring their structures, properties, and applications. Building on this foundation, the developmental history of these TIMs is emphasized and a detailed analysis of critical challenges and potential solutions is provided. Additionally, the preparation and application of some other novel 2D materials-based TIMs are briefly introduced, aiming to offer constructive guidance for the future development of high-performance TIMs.

Flexible, Reliable, and Lightweight Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polytetrafluoroethylene Membranes with Dual-Nanofibrous Structure for Outstanding EMI Shielding and Multifunctional Applications

In this study, lightweight, flexible, and environmentally robust dual-nanofibrous membranes made of carbon nanotube (CNT) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are fabricated using a novel shear-induced in situ fibrillation method for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The unique spiderweb-like network, constructed from fine CNTs and PTFE fibrils, integrates the inherent characteristics of these two materials to achieve high conductivity, superhydrophobicity, and extraordinary chemical resistance. The dual-nanofibrous membranes demonstrate a high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 25.7-42.2 dB at a thickness range of 100-520 µm and the normalized surface-specific SE can reach up to 9931.1 dB·cm2·g-1, while maintaining reliability even under extremely harsh conditions. In addition, distinct electrothermal and photothermal conversion properties can be achieved easily. Under the stimulation of a modest electrical voltage (5 V) and light power density (400 mW·cm-2), the surface temperatures of the CNT/PTFE membranes can reach up to 135.1 and 147.8 °C, respectively. Moreover, the CNT/PTFE membranes exhibit swift, stable, and highly efficient thermal conversion capabilities, endowing them with self-heating and de-icing performance. These versatile, flexible, and breathable membranes, coupled with their efficient and facile fabrication process, showcase tremendous application potential in aerospace, the Internet of Things, and the fabrication of wearable electronic equipment for extreme environments.

Recent advances in multifunctional electromagnetic interference shielding materials

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material is the most effective solution to protect electronic devices and human health from the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation. The study of EMI shielding materials is intensifying in the constantly developing picture of the fourth industrial revolution. Many EMI shielding materials based on metal, carbon, emerging MXene materials, and their composites have been discovered to utilize the EMI shielding performance. However, a huge demand for compact and multi-functional devices requires the integration of new functions into EMI shielding materials. Multifunctional EMI shielding materials perform multiple functions beyond their main function of EMI shielding in a system due to their specific properties. The additional functions can either naturally exist or be specially engineered. This review summarizes the recent progress of cutting-edge multifunctional EMI shielding materials. The possibility of combining multifunction EMI shielding materials, such as strain sensing, humidity sensing, temperature sensing, thermal management, etc., and the difficulties in balancing EMI shielding performance with other functions are also discussed. Lastly, we point out challenges and propose future directions to develop research on multifunctional EMI shielding materials.

In Situ Synthesis of Liquid Metal Conductive Fibers toward Smart Cloth

To meet the diverse needs of humans, smart cloth has become a potential research hotspot to replace traditional cloth. However, it is challenging to manufacture a flexible fabric with multiple functions. Here, we introduce a smart cloth based on liquid metal (LM) conductive fibers. Ga2O3 nanoparticles are obtained through ultrasonic pretreatment. Furthermore, a coordination bond is formed between thiol groups on the surface of protein fibers and Ga2O3 through a scraping method, allowing Ga2O3 particles to be grafted onto the surface of protein fibers in situ. Finally, LM conductive fibers are encapsulated using a photocuring adhesive. In addition, a wearable smart cloth integrated with multiple sensors has been developed based on LM conductive fibers. Users can not only monitor their movement trajectory and the surrounding environment in real time but also have their data supervised by family members through a client, achieving remote and continuous monitoring. The development of this wearable smart cloth provides strong support for future wearable, flexible electronic devices.

Highly Stable Heating Fibers of Ti3C2Tx MXene and Polyacrylonitrile via Synergistic Thermal Annealing

Nanohybrid assemblies provide an effective platform for integrating the intrinsic properties of individual components into microscale fibers. In this study, a novel approach for creating mechanically and environmentally stable MXene fibers through the synergistic assembly of MXene and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), is introduced. Unlike fibers generated via a conventional stabilization process, which relies on air-based stabilization to transform the PAN molecules into ring structures fundamental to carbon fibers, the hybrid fibers are annealed in an Ar atmosphere. This unique approach suggests MXene can serve as an oxygen provider that is essential for stabilizing PAN. As a result, significantly improved interfiber compactness is achieved and the oxidation stability of MXene is enhanced under atmospheric conditions. The resulting fibers exhibit exceptional stability, even after extended exposure to high humidity and elevated temperatures. This highlights the suitability of the thermally annealed MXene-PAN (T-MX-PAN) fibers as robust electric heating elements. Notably, these fibers consistently generate heat over 1800 bending cycles. When integrated into fabrics, they demonstrate the capability to generate sufficient heat for melting ice and rapid evaporation. This study highlights the potential of T-MX-PAN fibers as next-generation wearable heaters and offers valuable insights into advancing wearable technology in demanding environments.

Direct Ink Writing of Low-Concentration MXene/Aramid Nanofiber Inks for Tunable Electromagnetic Shielding and Infrared Anticounterfeiting Applications

MXene inks offer a promising avenue for the scalable production and customization of printing electronics. However, simultaneously achieving a low solid content and printability of MXene inks, as well as mechanical flexibility and environmental stability of printed objects, remains a challenge. In this study, we overcame these challenges by employing high-viscosity aramid nanofibers (ANFs) to optimize the rheology of low-concentration MXene inks. The abundant entangled networks and hydrogen bonds formed between MXene and ANF significantly increase the viscosity and yield stress up to 103 Pa·s and 200 Pa, respectively. This optimization allows the use of MXene/ANF (MA) inks at low concentrations in direct ink writing and other high-viscosity processing techniques. The printable MXene/ANF inks with a high conductivity of 883.5 S/cm were used to print shields with customized structures, achieving a tunable electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) in the 0.2-48.2 dB range. Furthermore, the MA inks exhibited adjustable infrared (IR) emissivity by changing the ANF ratio combined with printing design, demonstrating the application for infrared anticounterfeiting. Notably, the printed MXene/ANF objects possess outstanding mechanical flexibility and environmental stability, which are attributed to the reinforcement and protection of ANF. Therefore, these findings have significant practical implications as versatile MXene/ANF inks can be used for customizable, scalable, and cost-effective production of flexible printed electronics.

Multifunctional Liquid Metal-Bridged Graphite Nanoplatelets/Aramid Nanofiber Film for Thermal Management

Miniaturization of modern micro-electronic devices urges the development of multi-functional thermal management materials. Traditional polymer composite-based thermal management materials are promising candidates, but they suffer from single functionality, high cost, and low fire-resistance. Herein, a multifunctional liquid metal (LM)-bridged graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)/ aramid nanofibers (ANFs) film is fabricated via a facile vacuum-assisted self-assembly approach followed by compression. ANFs serve as interfacial binders to link LM and GNPs together via hydrogen bondings and π-π interactions, while LM bridges the adjacent layer of GNPs to endow a fast thermal transport by phonons and electrons. The resultant composite films exhibit a high bidirectional thermal conductivity (In-plane: 29.5 W m-1K-1 and through-plane: 5.3 W m-1K-1), offering a reliable and effective cooling. Moreover, the as-fabricated composite films exhibit superior flame-retardance (peak of heat release rate of 4000J g-1), outstanding Joule heating performance (200 °C at supplied voltage of 3.5 V), and excellent electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE of 62 dB). This work provides an efficient avenue to fabricate multifuntional thermal management materials for micro-electronic devices, battery thermal management, and artificial intelligence.

Sandwich-Structured Mxene/Waste Polyurethane Foam Composites For Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Interference, Infrared Shielding and Joule Heating

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) stealth materials have attracted increasing attention owing to the rapid development of modern communication and military surveillance technologies. However, to realize excellent EMI shielding and IR stealth performance simultaneously remains a great challenge. Herein, a facile strategy is demonstrated to prepare high-efficiency EMI shielding and IR stealth materials of sandwich-structured MXene-based thin foam composites (M-W-M) via filtration and hot-pressing. In this composite, the conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene/cellulose nanofiber (MXene/CNF) film serves as the outer layer, which reflects electromagnetic waves and reduces the IR emissivity. Meanwhile, the middle layer is composed of a porous waste polyurethane foam (WPUF), which not only improves thermal insulation capacity but also extends electromagnetic wave propagation paths. Owing to the unique sandwich structure of "film-foam-film", the M-W-M composite exhibits a high EMI shielding effectiveness of 83.37 dB, and in the meantime extremely low emissivity (22.17%) in the wavelength range of 7-14 µm and thermal conductivity (0.19 W m-1 K-1), giving rise to impressive IR stealth performance at various surrounding temperatures. Remarkably, the M-W-M composite also shows excellent Joule heating properties, capable of maintaining the IR stealth function during Joule heating.

Stretchable, Transparent, and Ultra-Broadband Terahertz Shielding Thin Films Based on Wrinkled MXene Architectures

With the increasing demand for terahertz (THz) technology in security inspection, medical imaging, and flexible electronics, there is a significant need for stretchable and transparent THz electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. Existing EMI shielding materials, like opaque metals and carbon-based films, face challenges in achieving both high transparency and high shielding efficiency (SE). Here, a wrinkled structure strategy was proposed to construct ultra-thin, stretchable, and transparent terahertz shielding MXene films, which possesses both isotropous wrinkles (height about 50 nm) and periodic wrinkles (height about 500 nm). Compared to flat film, the wrinkled MXene film (8 nm) demonstrates a remarkable 36.5% increase in SE within the THz band. The wrinkled MXene film exhibits an EMI SE of 21.1 dB at the thickness of 100 nm, and an average EMI SE/t of 700 dB μm-1 over the 0.1-10 THz. Theoretical calculations suggest that the wrinkled structure enhances the film's conductivity and surface plasmon resonances, resulting in an improved THz wave absorption. Additionally, the wrinkled structure enhances the MXene films' stretchability and stability. After bending and stretching (at 30% strain) cycles, the average THz transmittance of the wrinkled film is only 0.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The outstanding performances of the wrinkled MXene film make it a promising THz electromagnetic shielding materials for future smart windows and wearable electronics.

Porifera-Inspired Lightweight, Thin, Wrinkle-Resistance, and Multifunctional MXene Foam

Transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) demonstrate a massive potential in constructing lightweight, multifunctional wearable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields for application in various fields. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to develop a facile, scalable approach to prepare the MXene-based macrostructures characterized by low density, low thickness, high mechanical flexibility, and high EMI SE at the same time. Herein, the ultrathin MXene/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Ag foams with a porifera-inspired hierarchically porous microstructure are prepared by combining Zn2+ diffusion induction and hard template methods. The hierarchical porosity, which includes a mesoporous skeleton and a microporous MXene network within the skeleton, not only exerts a regulatory effect on stress distribution during compression, making the foams rubber-like resistant to wrinkling but also provides more channels for multiple reflections of electromagnetic waves. Due to the interaction between Ag nanosheets, MXene/rGO, and porous structure, it is possible to produce an outstanding EMI shielding performance with the specific surface shielding effectiveness reaching 109152.4 dB cm2 g-1. Furthermore, the foams exhibit multifunctionalities, such as transverse Joule heating, longitudinal heat insulation, self-cleaning, fire resistance, and motion detection. These discoveries open up a novel pathway for the development of lightweight MXene-based materials with considerable application potential in wearable electromagnetic anti-interference devices.

Ultra-Low Loading of Ultra-Small Fe3 O4 Nanoparticles on Nonmodified CNTs to Improve Green EMI Shielding Capability of Rubber Composites

From a material design perspective, the incorporation of Fe3 O4 @carbon nanotube (Fe3 O4 @CNT) hybrids is an effective approach for reconciling the contradictions of high shielding and low reflection coefficients, enabling the fabrication of green shielding materials and reducing the secondary electromagnetic wave pollution. However, the installation of Fe3 O4 nanoparticles on nonmodified and nondestructive CNT walls remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a novel strategy for fabricating the above-mentioned Fe3 O4 @CNTs and subsequently assembling segregated Fe3 O4 @CNT networks in natural rubber (NR) matrices is proposed. The advanced and unique structure, magnetism, and lossless conductivity endow the as-obtained Fe3 O4 @CNT/NR with a shielding effectiveness (SE) of 63.8 dB and a low reflection coefficient of 0.24, which indicates a prominent green-shielding capability that surpasses those of previously reported green-shielding materials. Moreover, the specific SE reaches 531 dB cm-1 , exceeding that of those of previously reported carbon/polymer composites. Meanwhile, the outstanding conductivity enables the composite to reach a saturation temperature of ≈95 °C at a driving voltage of 1.5 V with long-term stability. Therefore, the as-fabricated Fe3 O4 @CNT/rubber composites represent an important development in green-shielding materials that are applied in cold environment.

Revealing Surface/Interface Chemistry of the Ordered Aramid Nanofiber/MXene Structure for Infrared Thermal Camouflage and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

The past decade has witnessed the advances of infrared (IR) thermal camouflage materials, but challenges remain in breaking the trade-off nature between emissivity and mechanical properties. In response, we identify the key role of a moderate reprotonation rate in the aramid nanofiber (ANF)/MXene film toward a surface-to-bulk alignment. Theoretical simulation demonstrates that the ordered ANF/MXene surface eliminates the local high electric field by field confinement and localization, responsible for the low IR emissivity. By scrutinizing the surface/interface chemistry, the processing optimization is achieved to develop an ordered and densely stacked ANF/MXene film, which features a low emissivity of 16%, accounting for sound IR thermal camouflage performances including a wide camouflage temperature range of 50-200 °C, a large reduction in radiation temperature from 200.5 to 63.6 °C, and long-term stability. This design also enables good mechanical performance such as a tensile strength of 190.8 MPa, a toughness of 12.1 MJ m-3, and a modulus of 7.9 GPa, responsible for better thermal camouflage applications. The tailor-made ANF/MXene film further attains an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (40.4 dB) in the X-band, manifesting its promise for IR stealth compatible EMI shielding applications. This work will shed light on the dynamic topology reconstruction of camouflage materials for boosting thermal management technology.

Multifunctional Flexible MXene/AgNW Composite Thin Film with Ultrahigh Conductivity Enabled by a Sandwich-Structured Assembly Strategy

Flexible composite films have attracted considerable attention due to great potential for healthcare, telecommunication, and aerospace. However, it is still challenging to achieve high conductivity and multifunctional integration, mainly due to poorly designed composite structures of these films. Herein, a novel sandwich-structured assembly strategy is proposed to fabricate flexible composite thin films made of Ag nanowire (AgNW) core and MXene layers by combination of spray coating and vacuum filtration process. In this case, ultrathin MXene layers play crucial roles in constructing compact composite structures strongly anchored to substrate with extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions. The resultant sandwich-structured MXene/AgNW composite thin films (SMAFs) exhibit ultrahigh electrical conductivity (up to 27193 S cm-1 ), resulting in exceptional electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of 16 223.3 dB cm2 g-1 and impressive Joule heating performance with rapid heating rate of 10.4 °C s-1 . Moreover, the uniform SMAFs can also be facilely cut into kirigami-patterned interconnects, which indicate superior strain-insensitive conductance even after long-term exposure to extreme temperatures. The demonstrated strategy offers a significant paradigm to construct multifunctional composite thin films for next-generation integrated flexible electronics with practical applications.

High Strength MXene/PBONF Heterogeneous Membrane with Excellent Ion Selectivity for Efficient Osmotic Energy Conversion

Layered MXene nanofluidic membranes still face the problems of low mechanical property, poor ion selectivity, and low output power density. In this work, we successfully constructed heterostructured membranes with the combination of the layered channels of the MXene layer on the top and the nanoscale poly(p-phenylene-benzodioxazole) nanofiber (PBONF) layer on the bottom through a stepwise filtration method. The as-prepared MXene/PBONF-50 heterogeneous membrane exhibits high mechanical properties (strength of 221.6 MPa, strain of 3.2%), high ion selectivity of 0.87, and an excellent output power density of 15.7 W/m2 at 50-fold concentration gradient. Excitingly, the heterogeneous membrane presents a high power density of 6.8 W/m2 at a larger testing area of 0.79 mm2 and long-term stability. This heterogeneous membrane construction provides a viable strategy for the enhancement of mechanical properties and osmotic energy conversion of 2D materials.

Multifunctional nacre-like materials

Nacre, the iridescent inner layer of seashells, displays an exceptional combination of strength and toughness due to its 'brick-wall' architecture. Significant research has been devoted to replicating nacre's architecture and its associated deformation and failure mechanisms. Using the resulting materials in applications necessitates adding functionalities such as self-healing, force sensing, bioactivity, heat conductivity and resistance, transparency, and electromagnetic interference shielding. Herein, progress in the fabrication, mechanics, and multi-functionality of nacre-like materials, particularly over the past three years is systematically and critically reviewed. The fabrication techniques reviewed include 3D printing, freeze-casting, mixing/coating-assembling, and laser engraving. The mechanical properties of the resulting materials are discussed in comparison with their constituents and previously developed nacre mimics. Subsequently, the progress in incorporating multifunctionalities and the resulting physical, chemical, and biological properties are evaluated. We finally provide suggestions based on 3D/4D printing, advanced modelling techniques, and machine elements to make reprogrammable nacre-like components with complex shapes and small building blocks, tackling some of the main challenges in the science and translation of these materials.

Self-Reinforced Doping Strategy in the Multiscale PMIA Paper for High Mechanical Properties and Insulating Performance

The poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) paper has attracted extensive interests due to its ultrahigh mechanical properties as an ideal protective material for anti-impact damage applications. In the pursuit of additional properties, composites based on the PMIA matrix and various fillers are widely explored. However, additional improvements are frequently obtained at the expense of mechanical properties because of the serious interfacial compatibility brought by different components. In this study, a self-reinforced doping strategy is proposed by combining microscale PMIA fibers as the fillers and nanoscale PMIA fibers as the matrix to form a micronano paper. Without the limitation of the interfacial compatibility issues, the nanofibers are tightly aligned and adhered to the microfibers, enabling the in situ generation of hydrogen bonds at the interfaces. A compact interfacial structure is thus constructed with reduced porosity on the surface. It indicates that the microfibers have a positive impact on the improvement of mechanical properties. In our optimized sample with 5 wt % microfibers, the elastic modulus, tensile strength, and elongation are 1530 MPa, 24.8 MPa, and 5.3%, respectively, which are 142, 49.4, and 65% higher than those of the pristine nano-PMIA paper. In addition, the insulating performance is also improved, facilitating its further application extended to broad fields.

Ultrastrong Ionotronic Films Showing Electrochemical Osmotic Actuation

A multifunctional soft material with high ionic and electrical conductivity, combined with high mechanical properties and the ability to change shape can enable bioinspired responsive devices and systems. The incorporation of all these characteristics in a single material is very challenging, as the improvement of one property tends to reduce other properties. Here, a nanocomposite film based on charged, high-aspect-ratio 1D flexible nanocellulose fibrils, and 2D Ti3 C2 Tx MXene is presented. The self-assembly process results in a stratified structure with the nanoparticles aligned in-plane, providing high ionotronic conductivity and mechanical strength, as well as large water uptake. In hydrogel form with 20 wt% liquid, the electrical conductivity is over 200 S cm-1 and the in-plane tensile strength is close to 100 MPa. This multifunctional performance results from the uniquely layered composite structure at nano- and mesoscales. A new type of electrical soft actuator is assembled where voltage as low as ±1 V resulted in osmotic effects and giant reversible out-of-plane swelling, reaching 85% strain.

A Simplified Method for the Preparation of Highly Conductive and Flexible Silk Nanofibrils/MXene Membrane

Silk nanofibers (SNF) have great applications in high-performance functional nanocomposites due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and degradability. However, the preparation of SNF by traditional methods often requires the use of some environmentally harmful or toxic reagents, limiting its application in green chemistry. In this paper, we successfully prepared SNF using natural silk as raw material and solvent stripping technology by adjusting the solvent concentration and solution ratio (the diameter of about 120 nm). Using the above SNFs as raw materials, SNF membranes were prepared by vacuum filtration technology. In addition, we prepared an SNF/MXene nanocomposite material with excellent humidity sensitivity by simply coating MXene nanosheets with silk fibers. The conductivity of the material can approach 1400.6 S m-1 with excellent mechanical strength (51.34 MPa). The SNF/MXene nanocomposite material with high mechanical properties, high conductivity, and green degradability can be potentially applied in the field of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, providing a feasible approach for the development of functional nanocomposite materials.

Multifunctional Flexible AgNW/MXene/PDMS Composite Films for Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Strain Sensing

With the rapid development of electronic information technology, composite materials with outstanding performance in terms of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and strain sensing are crucial for next-generation smart wearable electronic devices. However, the fabrication of flexible composite films with dual functionality remains a significant challenge. Herein, multifunctional flexible composite films with exciting EMI shielding and strain sensing properties were constructed using a facile vacuum-assisted filtration process and transfer method. The films consisted of ultrathin AgNW/MXene (Ti3C2Tx)/AgNW conductive networks (1 μm) attached to a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The obtained AgNW/MXene/PDMS composite film exhibited an exceptional EMI shielding effectiveness of 50.82 dB and good flexibility (retaining 93.67 and 90.18% of its original value after 1000 bending and stretching cycles, respectively), which are attributed to the enhanced multilayer internal reflection network created by the AgNWs and MXene as well as the synergistic effect of PDMS. Besides EMI shielding, the composite films also displayed remarkable strain sensing properties. They exhibited a wide linear range of tensile strain up to 68% with a gauge factor of 468. They also showed fast response, ultralow detection limit, and high mechanical stability. Interestingly, the composite films could also detect motion and voice recognition, demonstrating their potential as wearable sensors. This study highlights the effectiveness of multifunctional flexible AgNW/MXene/PDMS composite films in resisting electromagnetic radiation and monitoring human motion, thereby providing a promising solution for the development of flexible wearable electronic devices in complex electromagnetic environments.

Electrically insulating PBO/MXene film with superior thermal conductivity, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and flame retardancy

Constructing flexible and robust thermally conductive but electrically insulating composite films for efficient and safe thermal management has always been a sought-after research topic. Herein, a nacre-inspired high-performance poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO)/MXene nanocomposite film was prepared by a sol-gel-film conversion method with a homogeneous gelation process. Because of the as-formed optimized brick and mortar structure, and the strong bridging and caging effects of the fine PBO nanofibre network on the MXene nanosheets, the resulting nanocomposite film is electrically insulating (2.5 × 109 Ω cm), and exhibits excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of 416.7 MPa, Young's modulus of 9.1 GPa and toughness of 97.3 MJ m-3). More importantly, the synergistic orientation of PBO nanofibres and MXene nanosheets endows the film with an in-plane thermal conductivity of 42.2 W m-1 K-1. The film also exhibits excellent thermal stability and flame retardancy. This work broadens the ideas for preparing high-performance thermally conductive but electrically insulating composites.

Scalable Fabrication of Nacre-Structured Graphene/Polytetrafluoroethylene Films for Outstanding EMI Shielding Under Extreme Environment

In this work, inspired by the great advantage of the unique "brick-mortar" layered structure as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, a multifunctional flexible graphene nanosheets (GNS)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite film with excellent EMI shielding effects, impressive Joule heating performance, and light-to-heat conversion efficiency is fabricated based on the self-emulsifying process of PTFE. Both PTFE microspheres and nanofibers are employed together for the first time as "sand and cement" to build unique nacre-structured EMI shielding materials. Such configuration can obviously enhance the adhesion of composites and improve their mechanical property for the application under extreme environment. Moreover, the simple and effective repetitive roll pressing method can be used for the scalable production in industrialization. The GNS/PTFE composite film shows a high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 50.85 dB. Furthermore, it has a high thermal conductivity of 16.54 W (m K)-1 , good flexibility, and recyclable properties. The excellent fire-resistant and hydrophobic properties of GNS/PTFE film also ensure its reliability and safety in practical application. In conclusion, the GNS/PTFE film demonstrates the potential for industrial manufacturing, and outstanding EMI shielding performance with high stability and durability, which has a broad application prospect for electronic devices in practical extreme outdoor environments.

Microfluidic-Based Continuous Fabrication of Ultrathin Hydrogel Films with Controllable Thickness

Ultrathin hydrogel films composed of cross-linked polymer networks swollen by water, with soft and moisturized features similar to biological tissue, play a vital role in flexible biosensors and wearable electronics. However, achieving efficient and continuous fabrication of such films remains a challenge. Here, we present a microfluidic-based strategy for the continuous fabrication of free-standing ultrathin hydrogel films by using laminar flow, which can be precisely controlled in the micrometer scale. Compared with conventional methods, the microfluidic-based method shows advantages in producing hydrogel films with a high homogeneity as well as maintaining the structural integrity, without the need of supporting substrates and sophisticated equipment. This strategy allows the precise control over the thickness of the hydrogel films ranging from 15 ± 0.2 to 39 ± 0.5 μm, by adjusting the height of the microfluidic channels, with predictable opportunities for scaling up. Therefore, our strategy provides a facile route to produce advanced thin polymer films in a universal, steerable, and scalable manner and will promote the applications of thin polymer films in biosensors and wearable electronics.

Nanopolyhybrids: Materials, Engineering Designs, and Advances in Thermal Management

The fundamental requirements for thermal comfort along with the unbalanced growth in the energy demand and consumption worldwide have triggered the development and innovation of advanced materials for high thermal-management capabilities. However, continuous development remains a significant challenge in designing thermally robust materials for the efficient thermal management of industrial devices and manufacturing technologies. The notable achievements thus far in nanopolyhybrid design technologies include multiresponsive energy harvesting/conversion (e.g., light, magnetic, and electric), thermoregulation (including microclimate), energy saving in construction, as well as the miniaturization, integration, and intelligentization of electronic systems. These are achieved by integrating nanomaterials and polymers with desired engineering strategies. Herein, fundamental design approaches that consider diverse nanomaterials and the properties of nanopolyhybrids are introduced, and the emerging applications of hybrid composites such as personal and electronic thermal management and advanced medical applications are highlighted. Finally, current challenges and outlook for future trends and prospects are summarized to develop nanopolyhybrid materials.

Regulating the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of TaS2 Films via van der Waals and Electrostatic Interaction for High Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Low-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have unique electronic structure, vibration modes, and physicochemical properties, making them suitable for fundamental studies and cutting-edge applications such as silicon electronics, optoelectronics, and bioelectronics. However, the brittleness, low toughness, and poor mechanical and electrical stabilities of TMD-based films limit their application. Herein, a TaS2 freestanding film with ultralow void ratio of 6.01% is restacked under the effect of bond-free van der Waals (vdW) interactions within the staggered 2H-TaS2 nanosheets. The restacked films demonstrated an exceptionally high electrical conductivity of 2,666 S cm-1, electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 41.8 dB, and absolute EMI SE (SSE/t) of 27,859 dB cm2 g-1, which is the highest value reported for TMD-based materials. The bond-free vdW interactions between the adjacent 2H-TaS2 nanosheets provide a natural interfacial strain relaxation, achieving excellent flexibility without rupture after 1,000 bends. In addition, the TaS2 nanosheets are further combined with the polymer fibers of bacterial cellulose and aramid nanofibers via electrostatic interactions to significantly enhance the tensile strength and flexibility of the films while maintaining their high electrical conductivity and EMI SE.This work provides promising alternatives for conventional materials used in EMI shielding and nanodevices.

Rational design of heterointerface between MoO2 and N-doped carbon with tunable electromagnetic interference shielding capacity

Exploring highly efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding filler is urgently desired for next-generation wireless communication and integrated electronics. In this regard, a series of heterogeneous MoO₂/N-doped carbon (MoO₂/NC) nanorods with tunable conductivity have been successfully synthesized by regulating the pyrolysis temperature within 600, 700 and 800 °C. Profiting from the rational design of heterointerface and low-dimensional structure, the MoO₂/NC powder achieves stronger EMI shielding capacity with the incremental temperature. It is found that the MoO₂/NC-800 nanorods exhibit the optimal average EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 57.2 dB at a thickness of ∼0.3 mm in the X band. Meanwhile, the corresponding shielding mechanisms of MoO₂/NC nanorods are also elaborately explained. More interestingly, the increase of sintering temperature makes an obvious effect on absorption loss but has little influence on reflection loss, demonstrating that adjusting the pyrolysis temperature is an effective strategy to strengthen the electromagnetic energy dissipation.

Enhanced Electromagnetic Shielding and Thermal Management Properties in MXene/Aramid Nanofiber Films Fabricated by Intermittent Filtration

High-efficiency electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and heat dissipation synergy materials with flexible, robust, and environmental stability are urgently demanded in next-generation integration electronic devices. In this work, we report the lamellar MXene/Aramid nanofiber (ANF) composite films, which establish a nacre-like structure for EMI shielding and heat dissipation by using the intermittent filtration strategy. The MXene/ANF composite film filled with 50 wt % MXene demonstrates enhanced mechanical properties with a strength of 230.5 MPa, an elongation at break of 6.2%, and a toughness of 11.8 MJ·m³ (50 wt % MXene). These remarkable properties are attributed to the hydrogen bonding and highly oriented structure. Furthermore, due to the formation of the MXene conductive network, the MXene/ANF composite film shows an outstanding conductivity of 624.6 S/cm, an EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 44.0 dB, and a superior specific SE value (SSE/t) of 18847.6 dB·cm²/g, which is better than the vacuum filtration film. Moreover, the MXene/ANF composite film also shows a great thermal conductivity of 0.43 W/m·K. The multifunctional MXene/ANF composite films with high-performance EMI shielding, heat dissipation, and joule heating show great potential in the field of aerospace, military, microelectronics, microcircuit, and smart wearable electronics.

Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes: A Versatile Medium for Waterproof and Breathable Application

Waterproof and breathable membranes that prevent liquid water penetration, while allowing air and moisture transmission, have attracted significant attention for various applications. Electrospun nanofiber materials with adjustable pore structures, easily tunable wettability, and good pore connectivity, have shown significant potential for constructing waterproof and breathable membranes. Herein, a systematic overview of the recent progress in the design, fabrication, and application of waterproof and breathable nanofibrous membranes is provided. The various strategies for fabricating the membranes mainly including one-step electrospinning and post-treatment of nanofibers are given as a starting point for the discussion. The different design concepts and structural characteristics of each type of waterproof and breathable membrane are comprehensively analyzed. Then, some representative applications of the membranes are highlighted, involving personal protection, desalination, medical dressing, and electronics. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives associated with waterproof and breathable nanofibrous membranes are presented.

Lightweight and flexible PAN@PPy/MXene films with outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding and Joule heating performance

Lightweight and flexible multifunctional materials with excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and Joule heating performances are highly demanded for smart and wearable electronics. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber films are prepared by electrospinning and then coated with polypyrrole (PPy) via vapor deposition, yielding a continuous three-dimensional (3D) conductive network of PAN@PPy. Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets with high electrical conductivity are sprayed on the PAN@PPy film to enhance its EMI shielding performance. The as-prepared PAN@PPy/MXene films (55 μm thick) exhibit a high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 32 dB, achieving an extraordinarily high normalized surface-specific SE (SSE/t) of up to 17 534.5 dB cm² g^-1 from 8.2 to 12.4 GHz; simultaneously, the temperatures of PAN@PPy/MXene films can be driven up to 170.5 °C at an input voltage of 4 V, and exhibit fast-response, stable, and long-term Joule heating performance. The high SSE/t and efficient Joule heating ability of the films bode potential applications in smart and wearable devices.

Nacre-Mimetic Hierarchical Architecture in Polyborosiloxane Composites for Synergistically Enhanced Impact Resistance and Ultra-Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Pervasive mechanical impact is growing requirement for advanced high-performance protective materials, while the electromagnetic interference (EMI) confers severe risk to human health and equipment operation. Bioinspired structural composites achieving outstanding safeguards against a single threat have been developed, whereas the synergistic implementation of impact/EMI coupling protection remains a challenge. This work proposes the concept of nacre-mimetic hierarchical composite duplicating the "brick-and-mortar" arrangement, which consists of freeze-drying constructed chitosan/MXene lamellar architecture skeleton embedded in a shear stiffening polyborosiloxane matrix. The resulting composite effectively attenuates the impact force of 85.9%-92.8% with extraordinary energy dissipation capacity, in the coordinative manner of strain-rate enhancement, structural densification, lamella dislocation and crack propagation. Attributed to the alternate laminated structure promoting the reflection loss of electromagnetic waves, it demonstrates an ultraefficient EMI shielding effectiveness of 47.2-71.8 dB within extremely low MXene loadings of 1.1-1.3 wt %. Furthermore, it serves favorably in impact monitoring and wireless alarm systems and accomplishes performance optimization through the combination of multiple biomimetic strategies. In conclusion, this function-integrated structural composite is shown to be a competitive candidate for sophisticated environments by resisting impact damage and EMI hazards.

A flexible, robust and multifunctional montmorillonite/aramid nanofibers@MXene electromagnetic shielding nanocomposite with an alternating structure for enhanced Joule heating and fire-resistant protective performance

With the rapidly increasing development of portable devices and flexible electronic devices, multifunctional composites with excellent mechanical strength, great electromagnetic interference shielding, great Joule heating performance and strong fire-resistant protective performance are noticeably required. Herein, inspired by the sandwich structure, we have designed a montmorillonite/aramid nanofibers@MXene (MMT/ANFs@MXene) nanocomposite with an alternating multilayered structure via a simple AVF process. In this nanocomposite, the ANFs/MMT (AT) layer acts as a mechanically reinforced and insulation protection layer, while the MXene layer maintains a complete conductive network. The superior alternating multilayered structure endows the nanocomposite with outstanding mechanical properties (154.66 MPa, 14.22%) and excellent EMI shielding effectiveness values (58.4 dB). In addition, the fire-resistant protective performance of the nanocomposite improves its safety and reliability, especially, the EMI shielding effectiveness is maintained at ∼34 dB after burning for 30 s. Besides, the MMT/ANFs@MXene nanocomposite shows excellent Joule heating performance with a fast thermal response, low driving voltage and long-time temperature stability, which could reach 110.2 °C at only 3 V applied voltage within 10 s. As a result, this work presents a novel strategy for constructing multifunctional composites with outstanding overall performance, which will broaden application areas and prospects in thermal management and EMI shielding in wearable products.

Rheology-Guided Assembly of a Highly Aligned MXene/Cellulose Nanofiber Composite Film for High-Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Infrared Stealth

Delicately aligned structures of two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets have demonstrated positive effects on applications, especially in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and infrared (IR) stealth. However, precise regulation of structural assembly by theory-guided solution processing is still a great challenge. Herein, one-dimensional (1D) cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with a high aspect ratio are applied as a reinforcing agent and a rheological modifier for MXene/CNF colloids to fabricate aligned MXene-based materials for EMI shielding and IR stealth. Notably, a systematical rheological study of the MXene/CNF colloids is proposed to determine the optimal solution-processing conditions for finely oriented component arrangement requirements and provides in-depth information on the interactions between the components. The delicately regulated orientation structure assembled by shear inducement is convincingly demonstrated through micro-CT and wide-angle X-ray diffraction/small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXD/SAXS), which endows the MXene/CNF film with a significantly enhanced electrical conductivity of 46 685 S m^-1, a tensile strength of 281.7 MPa, and Young's modulus of 14.8 GPa. Furthermore, the highly aligned structure of the ultrathin film possesses a great enhancement in EMI shielding effectiveness (50.2 dB) and IR stealth (0.562 emissivity). These findings provide a fruitful understanding of the optimized fabrication in solution processing of high-performance MXene-based functional composite films and open up a great opportunity for the development of multifunctional stealth materials.