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  • Review Article
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MXenes for multispectral electromagnetic shielding

Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering volume 1, pages 180–198 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) between unwanted electromagnetic (EM) waves and electronic circuits can lead to device malfunctions. The advancement of electronic, telecommunication and medical devices operating across a broad spectrum of EM waves (from ultralow kilohertz to high terahertz frequency) necessitates effective EMI shielding materials. MXenes — two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides — have emerged as EMI shielding materials that offer excellent metallic conductivity, large surface area, abundant surface terminations and facile solution processability. In composites with dielectric polymers, conducting carbons, magnetic particles and iontronic heterosystems, MXenes provide excellent multispectral EMI shielding against radiofrequency, gigahertz and terahertz or infrared-frequency waves at minimal thicknesses and in various structural forms. This Review delves into both theoretical and experimental aspects of the EMI shielding mechanisms of MXenes, showcasing their interaction with EM waves ranging from ultralow gigahertz to high terahertz frequency. The nanometre-thin pristine MXene films exhibit exceptionally low infrared emissivity, crucial for selective thermal management, infrared camouflage, stealth and anti-counterfeiting. MXene composites with polymers and magnetic inclusions not only enhance mechanical properties but also tune EMI shielding mechanisms. The Review also addresses challenges in developing MXene-based EMI shielding materials, offering insights into strategies and opportunities for their practical applications in electronics.

Key points

  • Two-dimensional MXenes, comprising transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides, are known for their high electrical conductivity, low infrared emissivity, tunable chemical composition and electromagnetic interference properties, and ease of post-synthesis processing.

  • Two-dimensional MXenes effectively shield against electromagnetic waves across a broad frequency spectrum, ranging from radiofrequency and gigahertz-range microwaves to terahertz and infrared frequencies.

  • Owing to their high electrical conductivity, MXenes exhibit the highest radiofrequency and gigahertz shielding efficiency among synthetic nanomaterials, rivalling that of pure metal films.

  • The hydrophilic terminations on MXene surfaces make them adaptable to various structural designs and suitable for use in MXene-tronic or MXene-iontronic systems, enhancing their shielding capabilities and providing additional modulation and gating functionalities.

  • MXenes exhibit compelling characteristics for infrared applications, including shielding, camouflage and anti-counterfeiting.

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Fig. 1: Structures and electronic properties of MXenes.
Fig. 2: EMI shielding mechanism and multiple reflections inside a shield.
Fig. 3: EMI shielding characteristics of MXene films.
Fig. 4: MXene composites and hybrids for EMI shielding.
Fig. 5: EMI shielding mechanism of aqueous and ionic systems, and related measurements.
Fig. 6: Terahertz and infrared shielding capabilities of MXenes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning (grants 2021M3H4A1A03047327, 2022R1A2C3006227, CRC22031-000) and by the Fundamental R&D Program (20020855) from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Republic of Korea, and partially supported by POSCO. Research at Drexel University was supported by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) (grant ECCS-2034114).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Aamir Iqbal, Tufail Hassan, Shabbir Madad Naqvi.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

    Aamir Iqbal, Tufail Hassan, Shabbir Madad Naqvi & Chong Min Koo

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering and A. J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Yury Gogotsi

  3. School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

    Chong Min Koo

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A.I., T.H. and S.M.N. conducted the literature review and prepared a manuscript under the supervision of C.M.K. Y.G. and C.M.K edited and shaped the manuscript. All of the authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript.

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Iqbal, A., Hassan, T., Naqvi, S.M. et al. MXenes for multispectral electromagnetic shielding. Nat Rev Electr Eng 1, 180–198 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44287-024-00024-x

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