Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026
06:34
Application of a Coupling Agent to Improve the Dielectric Properties of Polymer-Based Nanocomposites
Published on: September 19, 2020
6.3K
Lightweight Hierarchical Carbon Nanocomposites with Highly Efficient and Tunable Electromagnetic Interference
Olli Pitkänen1, Jarkko Tolvanen1, Imre Szenti2
1Microelectronics Research Unit, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering , University of Oulu , P.O. Box 4500, FIN-90014 Oulu , Finland.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|May 7, 2019
Summary
Lightweight carbon nanocomposites offer efficient, absorption-dominant electromagnetic interference shielding for next-gen devices. These flexible materials provide robust protection and tunable conductivity, ideal for wearable electronics and telecommunications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- High-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding is crucial for advanced telecommunication and sensor devices.
- Portable and wearable applications demand flexible, lightweight materials with efficient, absorption-dominant EMI shielding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop lightweight carbon foam-carbon nanotube/carbon nanofiber nanocomposites for effective EMI shielding.
- To investigate the microstructure, EMI shielding performance, and functional properties of these novel nanocomposites.
Main Methods:
- A two-step synthesis process involving carbonization of melamine foams and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes/nanofibers.
- Characterization of the nanocomposite microstructure, including its 3D hierarchical network and carbonaceous skeleton.
Main Results:
- The nanocomposites exhibit absorption-dominant EMI shielding (absorbance ~0.9) with effectiveness of ~20-30 dB in the K-band.
- High mass density normalized shielding effectiveness (800-1700 dB cm3 g-1) was achieved.
- Materials demonstrated hydrophobicity, mechanical flexibility, durability, and piezoresistive behavior for strain-responsive tuning.
Conclusions:
- The developed carbon nanocomposites are versatile, lightweight, and offer high-performance EMI shielding.
- Their properties are suitable for reliable operation in humid conditions and enable strain-responsive functionalities.
- These materials hold significant potential for applications in telecommunications, wearable electronics, aerospace, and robotics.
Related Concept Videos
02:37The Electromagnetic Spectrum
64.9K
The electromagnetic spectrum consists of all the types of electromagnetic radiation arranged according to their frequency and wavelength. Each of the various colors of visible light has specific frequencies and wavelengths associated with them, and you can see that visible light makes up only a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because the technologies developed to work in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are different, for reasons of convenience and historical...
64.9K
01:24The Electromagnetic Spectrum
33.4K
Electromagnetic waves are categorized according to their wavelengths and frequencies, giving the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves are classified as radio, infrared, ultraviolet, etc. Radio waves refer to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from millimeters to kilometers. Radio waves are commonly used for audio communications (i.e., radios) and typically result from an alternating current in the wires of a broadcast antenna. They cover a broad wavelength range and are used...
33.4K
02:18Interference and Diffraction
52.0K
Interference is a characteristic phenomenon exhibited by waves. When two electromagnetic waves interact with their peaks and troughs coinciding, a resulting wave with enhanced amplitude is produced. This is known as constructive interference. In this case, the two waves interacting are in phase with each other.
52.0K
01:23RNA Interference
27.9K
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
27.9K
01:14The Carbon Cycle
43.3K
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
43.3K
02:58Properties of Transition Metals
29.7K
Transition metals are defined as those elements that have partially filled d orbitals. As shown in Figure 1, the d-block elements in groups 3–12 are transition elements. The f-block elements, also called inner transition metals (the lanthanides and actinides), also meet this criterion because the d orbital is partially occupied before the f orbitals.
29.7K