An Asymmetric Layer Structure Enables Robust Multifunctional Wearable Bacterial Cellulose Composite Film with...

Highly robust flexible multifunctional film with excellent electromagnetic interference shielding and electrothermal/photothermal characteristics are highly desirable for aerospace, military, and wearable devices. Herein, an asymmetric gradient multilayer structured bacterial cellulose@Fe₃O₄/carbon nanotube/Ti₃C₂T_x (BC@Fe₃O₄/CNT/Ti₃C₂T_x) multifunctional composite film is fabricated with simultaneously demonstrating fast Joule response, excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and photothermal conversion properties. The asymmetric gradient 6-layer composite film with 40% of Ti₃C₂T_x possesses excellent mechanical performance with exceptional tensile strength (76.1 MPa), large strain (14.7%), and good flexibility. This is attributed to the asymmetric gradient multilayer structure designed based on the hydrogen bonding self-assembly strategy between Ti₃C₂T_x and BC. It achieved an EMI SE of up to 71.3 dB, which is attributed to the gradient "absorption-reflection-reabsorption" mechanism. Furthermore, this composite film also exhibits excellent low-voltage-driven Joule heating (up to 80.3 °C at 2.5 V within 15 s) and fast-response photothermal performance (up to 101.5 °C at 1.0 W cm^-2 within 10 s), which is attributed to the synergistic effect of heterostructure. This work demonstrates the fabrication of multifunctional bacterial cellulose@Fe₃O₄/carbon nanotube/Ti₃C₂T_x composite film has promising potentials for next-generation wearable electronic devices in energy conversion, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.