Eco-friendly cellulose paper composites: A sustainable solution for EMI shielding and green engineering applications

Cellulose paper-based composites represent a promising and sustainable alternative for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. Derived from renewable and biodegradable cellulose fibers, these composites are enhanced with conductive fillers namely carbon nanotubes, graphene, or metallic nanoparticles, achieving efficient EMI shielding while maintaining environmental friendliness. Their lightweight, flexible nature, and mechanical robustness make them ideal for diverse applications, including wearable electronics, flexible circuits, and green electronics. This paper explores the fabrication techniques, composite properties, with particular emphasis on ways to enhance the shielding properties, and performance metrics of cellulose-based composites, highlighting their potential to replace traditional metallic materials in various EMI shielding scenarios, thus contributing to the development of eco-friendly and high-performance electronic devices. Despite advancements, challenges such as achieving uniform filler dispersion and scalability of eco-friendly production methods persist, limiting industrial application.