Enabling Conducting Polymer Applications: Methods for Achieving High Molecular Weight in Chemical Oxidative Polymerization in Alkyl- and Ether-Substituted Thiophenes

A Lightweight, Elastic, and Thermally Insulating Stealth Foam With High Infrared-Radar Compatibility

The development of infrared-radar compatible materials/devices is challenging because the requirements of material properties between infrared and radar stealth are contradictory. Herein, a composite of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) coated melamine foam is designed to integrate the advantages of the dual materials and the created heterogeneous interface between them. The as-designed PEDOT:PSS@melamine composite shows excellent mechanical properties, outstanding thermal insulation, and improved thermal infrared stealth performance. The relevant superb radar stealth performance including the minimum reflection loss value of -57.57 dB, the optimum ultra-wide bandwidth of 10.52 GHz, and the simulation of radar cross section reduction value of 17.68 dB m² , can be achieved. The optimal specific electromagnetic wave absorption performance can reach up as high as 3263.02 dB·cm³ g^-1 . The average electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness value can be 30.80 dB. This study provides an approach for the design of high-performance stealth materials with infrared-radar compatibility.