Ultrathin flexible electrospun carbon nanofibers reinforced graphene microgasbags films with three-dimensional conductive network toward synergetic enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2021.08.090

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years, graphene-based composite films have been greatly developed in the field of electromagnetic shielding interference (EMI). However, it is still a huge challenge to prepare graphene-based composite films with excellent mechanical properties, conductivity and electromagnetic shielding properties. In this work, we adopted a facile and effective method by annealing the alkali-treated polyacrylonitrile (aPAN) nanofibers reinforced graphene oxide (GO) composite films at 2000 °C to obtain graphene-carbon nanofibers composite films (GCFs). Microscopically, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were intercalated into the graphene sheets, and microgasbags structure was formed during the heat treatment process. The special structure makes GCFs have superior tensile strength (10.4 MPa) at 5% strain. After repeated folding over 1000 times, the films still demonstrate excellent structural integrity and flexibility performance. Interestingly, the graphene-based composite films with 10 wt% aPAN nanofibers exhibit an extremely low density of about 0.678 g/cm³ and excellent electrical conductivity of 1.72 × 10⁵ S/m. Further, an outstanding electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) of 55-57 dB was achieved, and the corresponding value of the specific SE/thickness can reach 67,601-70,059 dB·cm²/g, which is the highest among reported graphene-based shielding materials. The significant electromagnetic shielding performance is due to the synergistic enhancement effect brought by the excellent conductivity of carbon nanofibers and graphene, the formed effective conductive network and the microgasbags structure. Electromagnetism simulation further clarified that the underlying mechanism should be mainly attributed to the conduction loss and multiple reflections caused by the special structure of GCFs. This work will provide new solutions for low density, high flexibility and excellent electromagnetic shielding properties materials in the next generation of foldable and wearable electronics.

Key words: Graphene-based composite films, Mechanical properties, Electromagnetic shielding, Electromagnetism simulation, Electromagnetic interference shielding mechanism

Likui Zhang, Yao Chen, Qian Liu, Wenting Deng, Yaoqun Yue, Fanbin Meng. Ultrathin flexible electrospun carbon nanofibers reinforced graphene microgasbags films with three-dimensional conductive network toward synergetic enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2022, 111: 57-65.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1. Preparation schematic diagram of the GCFs.

Fig. 2. (a) Optical pictures of aPAN and GO-aPAN-10 solutions after standing for 12 h. (b) Optical pictures of GO-aPAN-10 films. (c) FTIR spectra of GO and GO-aPAN films. (d) Raman spectra of GO and GO-aPAN films. (e) XRD spectra of GO and GO-aPAN films. (f) Stress-strain curves of GO film and GO-aPAN films with different aPAN nanofibers contents. The fracture morphology of GO and GO-aPAN films: (g) GO film, (h) GO-aPAN-5 film, (i) GO-aPAN-10 film.

Fig. 3. (a) XRD of GF and GCF samples. (b) Raman spectra of GF and GCF samples. SEM images of GF and GCFs: (c) GF, (d) GCF-5, (e) GCF-10, (f) GCF-15. (g) TEM image of GCF-10. (h) HRTEM image of the graphite laminate in GCF-10.

Fig. 4. Mechanical measurement of the films. (a) Stress-Strain curves of GF and GCF samples. (b) Stress-strain curves and (c) electrical conductivity of GCF-10 repeatedly fold 1000 times with a radius of <1 mm.

Fig. 5. (a) Electrical conductivity of GF and GCF samples. (b) EMI shielding performance of GF and GCF samples in 8-12 GHz frequency range. (c) Comparison of the average values of SET, SEA and SER of GF and GCF samples in the range of 8-12 GHz. (d) Effective absorption coefficient of GF and GCFs. (e) Shielding effectiveness of GF and GCFs. (f) EMI SE coefficient R, T, A of GCF-10.

Table 1. Comparison of typical carbon-based materials and corresponding shielding performance.

Name	Frequency range (GHz)	Thickness (mm)	Density (g/cm³)	Conductivity (S/m)	EMI SE (dB)	SSE/t(dB·cm²/g)	Ref.
Graphene aerogel film	2-18	0.120	0.41	80,000	65-105	13,211-21,341	[56]
Graphene paper	8-12	0.100	0.81	68,000	100	12,346	[57]
Graphene/CNTs film	2-18	0.015	1.45	274,000	58-66	26,667-30,345	[58]
Graphene/CNTs paper	8.2-12.4	0.0033	2.81	23,340	26	28,038	[19]
Porous graphene film	8.2-12.4	0.2	0.048	1000	47.8	49,750	[48]
rGO film	0.3-4.0	0.015	-	24,300	20.2	-	[59]
GCFs	8-12	0.012	0.678	172,000	55-57	67,601-70,059	This work

Fig. 6. CST simulation results of GCF-10 at 10 GHz. (a) Electromagnetic shielding simulation model of GCF-10. (b) Electric field intensity distribution. (c) Surface current density distribution. (d) Internal current density distribution. (e) Power loss density distribution on the surface. (f) Power loss density inside.

Fig. 7. EMI shielding mechanism of the GCFs.

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