Multifunctional Electromagnetic-Interference Shielding Materials Based on Ti₃C₂T_x MXene Composites

Transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) exhibit the unique combination of excellent solution processability and outstanding metallic electrical conductivity, showing great potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. To enable practical EMI shielding applications, the nanoscale 2D MXene sheets should be assembled into macroscopic architectures with satisfactory structural and functional properties. Here, we will present our recent efforts in developing functional composite materials based on 2D Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for EMI shielding applications. We fabricated a composite hydrogel incorporating MXene and poly(acrylic acid) through a biomineralization-inspired assembly route. This multifunctional hydrogel-type shielding material exhibits excellent stretchability and recyclability, fast self-healing capability, unique absorption-dominated shielding property, and sensing ability. Furthermore, to regulate the dispersion of MXene in the polymer composites and boost the EMI shielding performance, we will demonstrate a fabrication approach of highly conductive MXene composites by a monomer induced gelation method followed by <i>in-situ</i> polymerization to allow the formation of highly continuous and robust MXene network in the nanocomposites, leading to the facile creation of multifunctional highly efficient EMI shielding materials.