Bidirectional, Multilayer MXene/Polyimide Aerogels for Ultra-Broadband Microwave Absorption

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Designing advanced electromagnetic (EM) absorption materials with broad effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) and reduced thickness is crucial.
• Structural design is a key strategy for enhancing EM absorption performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop ultra-broadband multilayer bidirectional MXene/polyimide EM absorption aerogels with multiscale structures.
• To investigate the influence of micro- and macroscale structural features on EM absorption properties.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of MXene/polyimide aerogels using electric and temperature fields.
• Creation of ordered microstructures with aligned Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets and layered aerogel walls.
• Design of multilayer bidirectional aerogels with non-gradient structures at the macroscale.

Main Results:

• Achieved a wide EAB of 8.58 GHz at 2.1 mm thickness due to microscale ordered structures.
• Attained an ultrawide EAB of 9.41 GHz at 3 mm thickness by optimizing macroscale structures.
• Demonstrated effective impedance matching and energy loss through multiscale structural coupling.

Conclusions:

• The electric-field-assisted fabrication enables the creation of advanced EM absorption materials.
• Multiscale structural design is a promising approach for developing high-performance EM absorbers.
• These aerogels offer feasible pathways for next-generation electromagnetic shielding solutions.